UCLA Women’s Basketball Shines in WNBA Draft
Cori Close watched with excitement as UCLA’s women’s basketball team made history during the WNBA draft Monday night.
The coaches stood up repeatedly, celebrating their players’ achievements. It’s remarkable—UCLA has now had a pick for three straight years and a total of six selections from the college level overall.
Center Lauren Betts, chosen as the No. 4 pick by the Washington Mystics, even crawled to the stage in playful enthusiasm. It was an unforgettable moment as guard Gabriela Jaquez was picked fifth by the Chicago Sky, followed by point guard Kiki Rice, who went sixth to Toronto Tempo.
UCLA has now joined UConn in making their mark as the second school to secure draft picks for three consecutive years.
Betts candidly remarked to reporters, “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I’m not. My teammates are so talented, and they deserve every bit of this recognition. They’ve worked hard, and they’re like sisters to me.”
With five first-round picks, UCLA broke the previous college record of four, set in 2002. Notably, Angela Dugalich was picked ninth by Washington, while Gianna Kneepkens was selected 15th by the Connecticut Sun.
In another milestone, point guard Charlisse Ledger-Walker was drafted at No. 18 from UConn, marking six picks for UCLA in a single year. Interestingly, she became the first player from New Zealand ever selected.
Rice reflected on the team’s collective efforts, saying, “This shows we’re a selfless team that prioritizes success over individual accolades. You can achieve personal goals while winning as a team.”
Jaquez and Dugalich raised their stocks during the NCAA Tournament, with Jaquez impressively posting 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in the championship against South Carolina. Dugalich also recorded double-doubles while coming off the bench.
Kneepkens highlighted the team’s talent, stating, “Our players were exceptional, and knowing how to play alongside them is crucial for the WNBA.”
Betts and Dugalich will be joining former USC star Kiki Iliafen on the Mystics, alongside UCLA assistant coach Michaela Onyenwere, who recently signed with the team.
Betts jokingly said, “I’ll still call Coach Mike just to annoy her.”
When Betts heard her name called, she quickly embraced her family, mirroring Jaquez’s celebrations with his own family just moments later. Meanwhile, Dugalich expressed gratitude to his family in Serbian, and Kneepkens humorously responded about his shooting skills, joking that none of his brothers taught him.
This year’s draft is particularly special; due to the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, rookies will earn the highest salaries ever. Betts stands to make $407,163, with Jaquez at $380,219 and Rice at $355,058.
Kneepkens, who earned $289,133 as a rookie, expressed gratitude towards the trailblazing women before her, adding, “What they’ve achieved over the last 30 years is incredible. Knowing there are strong women in the league motivates me to contribute and help the league grow.”
