SACRAMENTO — A childhood photo perfectly illustrates the dynamics between Lauren and Sienna Betts.
In the picture, Lauren, the older sister, stands calmly, ready to take a shot at the Pop-A-Shot arcade game. In contrast, Sienna has climbed onto the machine, enthusiastically trying to toss the ball into the basket.
“I feel like that’s really them,” their mother, Michelle, remarked recently. “One follows the rules, and the other breaks them.”
This pattern has continued at UCLA, where both sisters play basketball. During a timeout, when Sienna was advised not to shoot from beyond the 3-point line, she disregarded the directive and landed a long-range shot. Afterward, she pointed at coach Cori Close.
“Whatever happened, I knew I had to film it,” Sienna said, making both Lauren and Close laugh. “I posted it afterward.”
Close appreciated not only Sienna’s confidence but also the joyful celebration that followed. When the timeout ended, Lauren rushed to her sister for a chest bump, beaming with pride.
“Whenever Sienna is happy, it’s a win for me,” Lauren shared.
This moment takes on greater significance as they pursue a national championship together in their college season before Lauren transitions to the WNBA.
“Knowing Sienna almost didn’t join because Lauren was there makes it even more special,” Close mentioned.
The Betts sisters rarely played together.
Throughout their journey, they’ve danced in practice, passed the ball during games, and each recorded double-doubles in the same NCAA Tournament matchup.
It’s hard to believe they hadn’t played together before this.
Michelle feared that after Lauren transferred to UCLA, Sienna, with her strong independence, might not want to seem like she was just following in her sister’s footsteps. To encourage Sienna, Michelle even took her on a college tour of another school in the winter.
“I just wanted her to think, Do I actually like it here?” Michelle said. “Are you really sure you want to not play with your sister?”
Lauren also played a crucial role. While Sienna visited the UCLA basketball office, Lauren presented a PowerPoint she had created that showcased their high school highlights in Colorado and detailed how she supported Sienna during her freshman year.
When Sienna saw it, she was moved to tears, with Michelle witnessing the moment through FaceTime.
“Everyone was in tears,” Michelle recalled. “It was really special.”
Sienna, though already intending to commit to UCLA, appreciated Lauren’s effort. “It felt really cool,” she mentioned, “to see how much Lauren wanted it.” She was excited about this opportunity but wanted to ensure her own identity was recognized.
Once the commitment was announced, Sienna asked her mother to have Lauren clarify on social media that this decision was for her own reasons, not just following her sister.
Michelle chuckled, understanding their likely plans to live together. “No way,” she replied, amused.
Sisters honor their parents’ sporting traditions
Their athletic heritage shines through in their uniforms. Sienna dons the number 16, which her mother wore while playing volleyball at Long Beach State. Lauren wears number 51, representing her father’s basketball number from the same school where he met Michelle before pursuing a professional career overseas.
With Lauren standing at 6’7″ and Sienna at 6’4″, their styles complement each other well. The Bruins’ offense often revolves around Lauren, a senior center, who averages a remarkable 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds, emerging as a contender for the Naismith Award.
Since returning from an injury, Sienna has proven to be a solid contributor, with averages of 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds coming off the bench, particularly highlighted during the Bruins’ Sweet 16 win over Minnesota.
Dancing together to the catchy beat of “Will.i.am’s #thatPOWER” featuring Justin Bieber brought a joyful moment during practice, showcasing their fun side. The coach even had the song replayed so they could dance to all the routines they enjoyed growing up.
While they have separate living spaces, Michelle noticed how the sisters grew closer, even going Christmas shopping together over the holidays.
“What?” Michelle mused at the unexpected togetherness, knowing they cherish every moment left before they go their separate ways.
“We’re really focusing on making the most of the time we have together,” Lauren said, eager to enjoy every moment of their shared experience.
Perhaps this is how two distinct personalities can exhibit such a similar bond.
