Lauren Betts - WNBA Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

The Mystics already have a young core with guards Georgia Amoore and Sonia Citron on board, along with forward Kiki Iriafen. However, adding strength and size with the trio is something that would serve Washington well. At 6-foot-7, Betts uses every bit of her length to unravel defensive pressure and to elevate herself over her competition when scoring. She's a walking mismatch who also uses her size and skill to be disruptive on the defensive end, making her one of the best rim protectors in the country.

The 6-foot-7 Betts is a traditional back-to-the-basket center who does not fit the five-out style the Lynx have had so much success with in recent years. However, last season showed that the Lynx could use some more size and physicality in the paint, and that's where Betts is at her best. A trade would be complicated now without a new CBA in place, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Lynx ultimately try to move out of this spot.

Betts is a dominant college player. She knows how to use her size to get post positioning, seal her defender and score at the rim. She effectively controls the glass and the paint on both ends of the floor. She passes well out of doubles and is expanding her shooting range to outside the paint. It's tough to score on her in the lane, and she's even hard to exploit on the perimeter. Betts was the hub of a team that made the Final Four last season and won the Big Ten tournament.

But her skills are better suited for college, where there is no defensive three-second rule and there aren't enough skilled scorers on a team to spread the floor against her. She isn't a great screener, her shooting touch needs improvement, and she has displayed a limited set of post moves — which, to be fair, generally get the job done. There are weaknesses in Betts' game for opponents to pick on. But she's also been hugely productive and impactful for winning at UCLA, and the bet is she figures out how to do so in the WNBA. The Mystics have exciting young frontcourt talent in Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen, who will give Betts some time to learn and grow into a WNBA role.

Betts was the No. 1 pick in our first 2026 mock draft in October. A first-team All-American last season, she is off to a strong start (15.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG) as a senior and hasn't done anything to drop on the draft board. But true centers in today's WNBA might not fit as comfortably into offensive systems until they adjust to the style of play. Still, Betts has a lot of talent, and she could join two star rookies from last season -- guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen -- in the Mystics' young core.