Seniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice from UCLA have been unanimously named to the 2025-26 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team, according to an announcement by the conference. Both players were also included in the all-conference preseason team selected by media members.
UCLA, which ended the 2024-25 season with three losses out of 37 games, has been ranked first in both coaches and media preseason polls for the upcoming Big Ten women’s basketball season.
Betts was recognized as the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year last season and has now been chosen as the unanimous Preseason Player of the Year by Big Ten coaches. In her previous season, she became the first player in UCLA history to record over 600 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a single year. She set a new school record for blocks in a season with 100 and broke the single-game blocks record with nine against Baylor at the Coretta Scott King Classic. Betts led her team in scoring with an average of 20.2 points per game and achieved a career-high of 33 points against Maryland.
Betts is noted as the only unanimous selection across both coaches’ and media teams. Rice joins her as one of two Big Ten student-athletes to receive a unanimous selection on either team.
Rice finished last season as UCLA’s second leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points per game. She improved her shooting efficiency, posting career highs in field goal percentage (.485) and three-point percentage (.365). As point guard, Rice led both her team and the conference with 170 assists, surpassing 100 assists for a third consecutive year.
The full list of preseason honors includes rankings that place UCLA at number one among both coaches’ and media selections for Big Ten women’s basketball.
Below are the top five teams from each poll:
Coaches Poll:
1. UCLA
2. Maryland
3. Michigan
4. USC
5. Ohio State
Media Poll:
1. UCLA
2. Maryland
3. USC
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
The Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team features athletes from Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, UCLA (Betts and Rice), and Washington.
Lauren Betts was named Coaches Preseason Player of the Year.
The Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team also includes representatives from Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, UCLA (Betts and Rice), and Washington.
Lauren Betts was named Media Preseason Player of the Year.
