Story perspectives

Betts Leads UCLA to First Title, Highlights Mental Health

7/18/2026

Summary

Betts Leads UCLA

Betts led UCLA to its first NCAA women’s basketball title with a 79-51 win over South Carolina on April 5, 2026, finishing 37-1 overall.
She earned Most Outstanding Player, the Lisa Leslie Award, Big Ten Player of the Year and an ESPY, then said mental health is the foundation of success at the ESPYs.
After transferring from Stanford, Betts checked into UCLA Hospital’s psych ward and wrote an article describing suicidal thoughts.

Summary

Betts Wins ESPY

Bam Adebayo and French Montana presented Betts with the Best Women’s College Athlete ESPY award.
Betts won the award over Pittsburgh volleyball star Olvia Babcock, Oklahoma gymnast Faith Torrez, and Northwestern lacrosse player Madison Taylor.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza received the Best Men’s College Athlete ESPY award at the same ceremony.
In her ESPY speech, Betts reiterated mental-health advocacy, echoing themes from her March Players’ Tribune article.

Summary

Betts Inspires

Betts logged 16 minutes per game, shot 53.5%, and contributed 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 23 contests.
The Washington Mystics kept Betts in the starting lineup after she entered the 2026 draft as the nation’s No. 1 ranked recruit, a distinction noted at her ESPY appearance.
Her ESPY acceptance speech trended on X, prompting viewers to call it “truly inspiring” and praise her mental-health advocacy.

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Betts Leads UCLA

Betts led UCLA to its first NCAA women’s basketball title with a 79-51 win over South Carolina on April 5, 2026, finishing 37-1 overall.
She earned Most Outstanding Player, the Lisa Leslie Award, Big Ten Player of the Year and an ESPY, then said mental health is the foundation of success at the ESPYs.
After transferring from Stanford, Betts checked into UCLA Hospital’s psych ward and wrote an article describing suicidal thoughts.

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