UCLA Women’s Basketball had several players recognized on the Associated Press All-America teams, according to a March 18 announcement.
The recognition highlights the achievements of senior Lauren Betts, who was named to the First Team All-America for a second consecutive year. Betts is joined by UConn’s Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, and Texas’ Madison Booker. She becomes the first UCLA player to earn First Team honors in back-to-back seasons.
Senior Kiki Rice received her first outright All-America selection as she was named to the AP Third Team for the 2025-26 season. Rice is UCLA’s second-leading scorer with an average of 15.3 points per game and also averages six rebounds per game. She was named Most Outstanding Player at the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament after helping lead UCLA to consecutive conference tournament titles. In the previous season, Rice earned honorable mention from both WBCA and AP.
Graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens earned an Honorable Mention after receiving votes for her performance this season. Kneepkens is noted as one of three women’s basketball players in the “50-40-90 club,” with shooting percentages of .518 from the field, .442 from three-point range, and .952 from the free throw line.
Betts has also been named one of four finalists for the 2026 Wade Trophy, which is awarded annually by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to college women’s basketball’s best player. The WBCA also announced its list of 48 finalists for this year’s NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America team, with both Rice and Betts included among them. The final ten-member team will be announced on April 2.
