UCLA Bruins Shine on WNBA Draft Night

Just days after clinching the NCAA Championship, UCLA made quite an impression during the WNBA draft. The Bruins drafted six players, grabbing consecutive picks with Lauren Betts at 4th, Gabriela Jaquez at 5th, and Kiki Rice at 6th, resulting in four selections within the top 10.

Fast forward less than two weeks into the new season, and all six rookies are already leaving their mark.

Here’s a closer look at how these players have impacted their teams in the early going.

Lauren Betts: 4th Overall, Washington Mystics

Early season stats: 5.5 points, 3 rebounds, 45% field goal percentage, 14.8 minutes per game.

Betts, a standout in college and the MVP of the Final Four, is 6-foot-7 and currently comes off the bench for Shakira Austin and Kiki Eliafen. However, she has started to showcase her skills in limited minutes. Just the other day, she had her best performance so far, scoring 15 points on 5-7 shooting along with three rebounds in 15 minutes.

Gabriela Jaquez: 5th Overall, Chicago Sky

Early season stats: 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 48.8% FG, 37.5% 3P, 29.4 minutes per game.

There were doubts about Jaquez being picked so high, especially right after an impressive NCAA Championship Game. But it seems her skills have translated effectively to the WNBA. She has started every game for the 3-2 Sky, playing nearly 30 minutes each night and scoring double digits in four of those five games. Her standout performance came in a win over the Minnesota Lynx, where she registered 20 points and eight rebounds.

Kiki Rice: 6th Overall, Toronto Tempo

Early season stats: 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 55.9% FG, 50% 3P, 25.6 minutes per game.

The first draft pick in Tempo’s history is making some waves. After a scoreless debut, Rice quickly improved and has consistently scored at least 11 points in her last four games. She played a key role in both of Tempo’s recent wins, highlighted by her 19-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks and a solid 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals against the Phoenix Mercury.

Angela Dugaric: 9th Overall, Washington Mystics

Early season stats: 2.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 40% FG, 20% 3P, 10.5 minutes per game.

Dugaric hasn’t seen as much playing time as her fellow Bruins, but she’s making strides within the Mystics’ rotation. Recently, she logged a season-high 13 minutes against the Dallas Wings and has played significant minutes in three of the last four games.

Janna Neepkens: 15th Overall, Connecticut Sun

Early season stats: 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 34.8% FG, 22.2% 3P, 10.5 minutes per game.

Similar to Dugaric, Neepkens has had limited opportunities, especially in recent games. With the Sun’s rotation shifting significantly early on, she’s still managed to start in two of the six games and recorded at least 13 minutes three times. In the opener, she scored a season-high seven points and added five rebounds.

Charlize Ledger Walker: 18th Overall, Connecticut Sun

Early season stats: 8 points, 2.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds, 38.6% FG, 33.3% 3P, 21.2 minutes per game.

The final UCLA draftee, Ledger Walker, has made a notable impact early in the season. She’s scored double figures in the last three games, including a team-high 16 points in a crucial win against the Seattle Storm. In that game, she played for 28 minutes and has consistently been on the court for no less than 16 minutes in all six of Connecticut’s matchups.