Senior Lauren Betts of UCLA has been named to the 15-player “Wade Watch” list for the 2026 Wade Trophy, according to an announcement from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Wednesday.
The Wade Trophy is awarded annually to the top player in college women’s basketball. The award, which is in its 49th year, honors Lily Margaret Wade, a coach who led Delta State University to three consecutive national championships. Since 2001, it has been presented by the WBCA to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year.
Betts received first-team All-American honors from both the Associated Press (AP) and WBCA for her performance during the 2024-25 season. She was also included on the AP preseason All-America team announced on October 21. As a center for UCLA, Betts was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year by Big Ten coaches and became the first player in program history to record over 600 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a single season. She set a new single-season blocks record with 100 and achieved nine blocks in one game against Baylor at the Coretta Scott King Classic. Betts led her team in scoring with an average of 20.2 points per game and scored a career-high 33 points against Maryland, marking one of four games where she surpassed 30 points. She also won national Defensive Player of the Year awards from AP, Naismith, and WBCA, becoming the first UCLA women’s basketball player to be named AP First Team All-America.
“The Wade Trophy is presented to the best player in college women’s basketball annually,” stated WBCA representatives.
The list of candidates for this year’s award was chosen by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee. The committee will review candidates again midseason and may add more players based on their performances during the first half of the upcoming season. The winner will be announced at the WBCA Convention in Phoenix during April, coinciding with the site of next year’s NCAA Women’s Final Four.
Other athletes joining Betts on this year’s “Wade Watch” list include Raegan Beers (Oklahoma), Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Joyce Edwards (South Carolina), Azzi Fudd (Connecticut), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau’Jae Johnson (LSU), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Olivia Miles (TCU), Khamil Pierre (NC State), Sarah Strong (Connecticut), Serah Williams (Connecticut), and Mikaylah Williams (LSU).
