Lauren Betts wins Women's Final Four Most Outstanding Player: How UCLA star led Bruins to 2026 national championship

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Lauren Betts wins Women's Final Four Most Outstanding Player: How UCLA star led Bruins to 2026 national championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

UCLA made it look easy on Sunday, blowing out South Carolina by 28 points to capture a national championship, but the journey wasn't easy for the Bruins.

Head coach Cori Close broke through with a Final Four appearance in her 14th season on the job, and year No. 15 brought her to the pinnacle to the sport as a national champion.

UCLA did its heavy lifting on the defensive side of the ball, stifling both Texas and South Carolina in Phoenix to earn the right to cut down the nets.

Here's a look at who won Final Four Most Outstanding Player for UCLA after Sunday's title game victory.

MORE:How UCLA shut down South Carolina to win title

Who won women's Most Outstanding Player in 2026?​

Lauren Betts was awarded Most Outstanding Player after UCLA's 79-51 win over South Carolina.

Betts finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the victory, and she posted 16 points, 11 rebounds with three blocks in UCLA's bruising win over Texas in the Final Four.

Gabriela Jaquez was the statistical star of the Bruins' championship game win, but she had a quieter semifinal with six turnovers. Jaquez posted 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on Sunday.

Betts, a senior, averaged 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game entering Sunday's game, earning All-American honors for the second consecutive season. She is projected to be a top-five pick in the WNBA Draft just eight days from her championship win.

MORE:Why Lauren Betts briefly exited national championship game

Women's Most Outstanding Player winners​

Here are the last 20 winners of the Women's Final Four Most Outstanding Player award:

Year	Player	School
2026	Lauren Betts	UCLA
2025	Azzi Fudd	UConn
2024	Kamilla Cardoso	South Carolina
2023	Angel Reese	LSU
2022	Aaliyah Boston	South Carolina
2021	Haley Jones	Stanford
2019	Chloe Jackson	Baylor
2018	Arike Ogunbowale	Notre Dame
2017	A'ja Wilson	South Carolina
2016	Breanna Stewart	UConn
2015	Breanna Stewart	UConn
2014	Breanna Stewart	UConn
2013	Breanna Stewart	UConn
2012	Brittney Griner	Baylor
2011	Danielle Adams	Texas A&M
2010	Maya Moore	UConn
2009	Tina Charles	UConn
2008	Candace Parker	Tennessee
2007	Candace Parker	Tennessee
2006	Laura Harper	Maryland

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