- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,149,813
- Reaction score
- 59
The UCLA Bruins accounted for one third of the first round of Monday night’s WNBA Draft, as five members of UCLA’s championship team were selected. There was a run of three-straight Bruins coming off the board mid-way through the round, with Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice going in consecutive order.
A pair of UCLA first rounders will be WNBA teammates, with the Washington Mystics grabbing forward Angela Dugalic and center Lauren Betts. They won’t be the only Bruins remaining teammates with the Connecticut Sun grabbing Gianna Kneepkens with the last pick of the first round before drafting Charlisse Leger-Walker in the second round.
With all of the UCLA draft picks, there must be some winners and losers. USA TODAY writer Meghan L. Hall graded every first round pick, here are their grades for the Bruin selections.
The Washington Mystics continue to pad their young core with more talent. The 2026 draft board was kind to them allowing Washington to select the best big on the board. Betts is a terror in the paint and gets anything she wants. She'll provide a nice one-two punch with current center Shakira Austin, who the team re-signed Monday. The thought of Betts with Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore and Sonia Citron playing together for years should be music to fans everywhere.”
The Chicago Sky might have taken one of the not-so-secret sleeper players in the entire draft. Jaquez is the type of player many teams likely coveted ahead of the draft: tough, gritty, and can do it all. The Bruins guard can drain a 3-ball in one moment and then force a turnover on the possession. She should provide energy for a rebuilding Chicago offense that has shifted after free agency.
The run on UCLA continues with Rice in Toronto. The Tempo, coached by head coach Sandy Brondello (a former guard), should help Rice assimilate to the high requirements of floor generals in the WNBA. Rice, who had a standout senior season, brings patient footwork, scoring and willing defense to a new team.
Dugalić joins Lauren Betts in Washington, which should help both of their transitions to the league. Dugalić is a head-down type of player, who has no issue coming in off the bench and immediately going to work. She scores, rebounds and does anything that a team might ask. The Mystics should be able to use her as a utility piece in the offense as it continues to build out its depth.
Kneepkens might be the Sun's way of replacing former guard Marina Mabrey, and if it is, it's not a bad way to go. Kneepkens who is a 3-point specialist, who can also knock down the midrange and get into the post when ask. The Sun should be able to accent her best qualities in it's young core.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: USA TODAY grades the selections for all five UCLA first round picks
Continue reading...
A pair of UCLA first rounders will be WNBA teammates, with the Washington Mystics grabbing forward Angela Dugalic and center Lauren Betts. They won’t be the only Bruins remaining teammates with the Connecticut Sun grabbing Gianna Kneepkens with the last pick of the first round before drafting Charlisse Leger-Walker in the second round.
With all of the UCLA draft picks, there must be some winners and losers. USA TODAY writer Meghan L. Hall graded every first round pick, here are their grades for the Bruin selections.
No. 4: Lauren Betts, C, Washington Mystics
Grade: A
The Washington Mystics continue to pad their young core with more talent. The 2026 draft board was kind to them allowing Washington to select the best big on the board. Betts is a terror in the paint and gets anything she wants. She'll provide a nice one-two punch with current center Shakira Austin, who the team re-signed Monday. The thought of Betts with Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore and Sonia Citron playing together for years should be music to fans everywhere.”
No. 5: Gabriela Jaquez, G, Chicago Sky
Grade: A
The Chicago Sky might have taken one of the not-so-secret sleeper players in the entire draft. Jaquez is the type of player many teams likely coveted ahead of the draft: tough, gritty, and can do it all. The Bruins guard can drain a 3-ball in one moment and then force a turnover on the possession. She should provide energy for a rebuilding Chicago offense that has shifted after free agency.
No. 6 Kiki Rice, G, Toronto Tempo
Grade: B
The run on UCLA continues with Rice in Toronto. The Tempo, coached by head coach Sandy Brondello (a former guard), should help Rice assimilate to the high requirements of floor generals in the WNBA. Rice, who had a standout senior season, brings patient footwork, scoring and willing defense to a new team.
No. 9: Angela Dugalić, F, Washington Mystics
Grade: B
Dugalić joins Lauren Betts in Washington, which should help both of their transitions to the league. Dugalić is a head-down type of player, who has no issue coming in off the bench and immediately going to work. She scores, rebounds and does anything that a team might ask. The Mystics should be able to use her as a utility piece in the offense as it continues to build out its depth.
15. Gianna Kneepkens, G, Connecticut Sun
Grade: B
Kneepkens might be the Sun's way of replacing former guard Marina Mabrey, and if it is, it's not a bad way to go. Kneepkens who is a 3-point specialist, who can also knock down the midrange and get into the post when ask. The Sun should be able to accent her best qualities in it's young core.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: USA TODAY grades the selections for all five UCLA first round picks
Continue reading...
