Why Lauren Betts Fell to No. 4 and the Mystics Should Be Ecstatic

Lauren Betts was drafted by the Washington Mystics No. 4 overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft after coming off being the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, the Big Ten Player of the Year, and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who just led UCLA to its first-ever national championship.

(Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)

The Dallas Wings held the No. 1 pick for the second straight year and used the pick to take Azzi Fudd, reuniting former UConn star Paige Bueckers with her former sharpshooting backcourt partner. The Minnesota Lynx took TCU guard Olivia Miles at No. 2, and the Seattle Storm drafted 19-year-old Spanish prospect Awa Fam third. By the time Washington was on the clock at No. 4, Betts was still on the board.

Betts posted 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game on 58 percent shooting in her final college season. Her NCAA Tournament run only provided more reason for belief. Betts shot at least 60% from the field in all six tournament games, averaged 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.8 blocks on 68.8% shooting, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

So what happened?

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Three Teams, Three Reasons She Slipped

Once the Wings’ free-agent moves were made, including adding veteran frontcourt players Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard and re-signing Arike Ogunbowale, it became clear that Dallas would prioritize a perimeter complement over a big. Fudd, an elite 3-point shooter, was the sensible choice for a team that was among the worst in every major 3-point shooting category last season.

“Azzi Fudd is one of the best shooters in our game today,” Wings general manager Curt Miller said. “She has a lightning-quick release and her movement off the ball is elite. She competes hard defensively and is an efficient, unselfish player who knows how to win. In an outstanding draft class, she stood out to us not only with her basketball skills but with her intangibles. She is a great teammate and has outstanding basketball IQ. Azzi brings to the Wings the type of character that we want in our locker room. We are ecstatic to add her to our Wings family.”

Lauren Betts becomes the fourth player in the last 30 years to win their respective conference player of the year award and win their programs first national title

She is the first to do so since A’ja Wilson in 2017 pic.twitter.com/bXlxpPifye

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) April 6, 2026

Minnesota’s logic was equally straightforward. The Lynx lost six rotation players to the expansion draft and free agency, and with Napheesa Collier expected to miss time early in the season, a point guard of the future was a bigger need given their aging backcourt. Miles stood out as the type of true point guard that Minnesota has lacked for many years.

“Just having a point guard—having somebody that can generate easy baskets, on time, on target,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of Miles. “Rim pressure, playing pick and roll—there’s a lot of things. The first message I got within about a minute after making our selection was from McBride, who was like, “I’m gonna have the ball in my hands. I’m gonna be wide open.” So she’s just really gifted.

“We felt like there were two players with generational skills in the draft, and the generational skill of passing, playmaking, point guard, and leadership—you know, if Courtney Williams was watching, I don’t mean to suggest she’s not a great point guard—but this is the first real point guard we’ve had since Lindsay Whalen,” Reeve explained. “When I say “real,” I mean that kind of generational player who makes a living doing it. So yeah, we’re really excited.”

With 6-foot-4 Ezi Magbegor and 6-6 Dominique Malonga already on the roster, the Storm didn’t appear to need another big, but Fam’s mobility, youth, and potential were too compelling to pass on at 19 years old.

“I don’t know if we’ve seen this type of a frontcourt,” Storm coach Sonia Raman said. “I’m excited for the creativity that allows us as coaches to lean into some really innovative ways that we’re going to use them on both ends. So obviously more to come there. … I think being young, they’re going to develop together, they’re going to develop that chemistry with each other. And there’s a lot of ways that we’re going to be able to move them around and be able to kind of play off of each other in a really dynamic way.”

In modern basketball, traditional centers who thrive in the post — players like Betts — are less valued draft targets, as the league trends toward versatile perimeter players.

Betts, though, has been clear-eyed about the criticism.

At UCLA’s Raising Cane’s championship celebration before the draft, she talked about how her game translates to the WNBA.

“Obviously, having a really big post presence, I think it’s about continuing to work on my skills there, preparing my one-on-one game, trying to spread the floor a little bit more if I can, and continuing to grow in all aspects,” Betts said. “Defensively, being able to switch out on guards is something I take a lot of pride in. I’ve worked really hard all preseason to move my feet on the perimeter, and I think that’s going to help me moving forward, especially with the guards in the league. I’m going to keep getting better in that area.”

That answer speaks directly to the traditional-center skepticism on both fronts — floor spacing and perimeter mobility. She is not unaware of the critique. She is already working against it.

Washington Got a Steal

None of the above changed what the Mystics landed. Betts’ ability to hit face-up shots, along with her low-block offense and top-level defense, made her a strong choice for a Washington roster in full rebuild mode.

The Mystics missed the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025 and have not advanced past the first round since winning the 2019 WNBA championship. Washington is building a strong foundation with Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen as All-Stars in their rookie seasons, giving the team the supporting infrastructure needed to make a paint presence like Betts viable. Betts has existing ties to both.

It helps that she played alongside Iriafen at Stanford during her freshman season in 2022-23 before transferring to UCLA, and that she also spent time with both players with USA Basketball.

“Honestly, probably Kiki,” Betts said when asked which WNBA player she is most excited to learn from as a rookie. “She had an amazing year in D.C., and she’s someone I look up to and have looked up to for a really long time. I know she’s going to help me a lot, so I’m really excited.”

The frontcourt picture is equally promising. Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson expects Betts to begin her career backing up Shakira Austin, who Washington re-signed to a three-year contract worth $1.19 million annually, but envisions Austin and Betts as a potent one-two punch.

“When Kira comes out, you feel like, ‘Ah, man, I don’t know if you have a drop-off there,’ because Lauren is so good,” Johnson said at the Mystics’ post-draft availability. “The level that Kira sets to then come with Lauren, I think it’s a pretty healthy combination.”

Betts sees it the same way.

“Every practice is going to be great competition, and we’re going to make each other better,” she said Monday. “She’s established, an amazing player and person, and I know I’m going to learn so much from her. I’m looking forward to seeing how we play together, connect, and continue to improve.”

Lauren Betts Is Eager to Learn

The culture component matters too. At the Raising Cane’s presser, Betts made clear how she intends to carry herself in year one.

“I’m going in not trying to set expectations too high for myself, but just wanting to learn from everybody and help the team win games in any way that I can,” Betts said. “I’m really excited to learn from all the vets. I know they’re amazing people and players, so I’m looking forward to learning from everyone.”

The Mystics did not stop at No. 4. They also drafted Angela Dugalić ninth overall and Cotie McMahon eleventh — the most picks of any team on the night. Washington also signed Michaela Onyenwere, the 2021 WNBA Rookie of the Year, who served as a UCLA assistant coach during the Bruins’ title run, agreeing to a $1.4 million multi-year deal ahead of the draft.

Johnson described the organizational approach as targeting players who were “good, young and hungry” — players ascending alongside a franchise doing the same.

Betts lands in Washington as an important piece of a rebuild that already has talent around the roster in place. She can step in as an impact player on a franchise motivated to return to the postseason stage, and now has a generational interior talent to build around.

Washington will be grateful for a long time that three teams looked elsewhere.