What Lauren Betts is learning the hard way after Mystics’ 23-point loss to Wings

It’s hard to discover silver linings in blowout defeats, however Washington Mystics rookie middle Lauren Betts had the greatest statistical recreation of her younger WNBA profession in Monday’s 92-69 loss to the Dallas Wingstotaling 11 factors (5-7 FG) with three rebounds over quarter-hour off the bench. The 22-year-old was the solely Mystic to rating in double figures apart from fellow middle Shakira Austin, who tallied 12 factors (5-10 FG) throughout 26 minutes.

Betts advised ClutchPoints what she’s learned about being a professional player to this point after the recreation.

“Every single game is just very, very competitive. I mean, I’m playing against the best every day,” the UCLA alum admitted. “So just showing up mentally ready to compete. Obviously, everyone’s a lot more physical and it’s a lot faster than college. So, I think just trying to adjust to the style of playing and trusting myself. Still playing my game while also just trying to learn my teammates and gain chemistry with them. But I think just staying present and trying to get better every single day and learning, that’s the biggest thing for me.”

Mystics’ frontcourt depth supplies good downside

Betts is experiencing the impolite awakening of the NCAA-to-WNBA transition. The Colorado native led UCLA to an NCAA title in April and was named the match’s Most Outstanding Player after averaging 21 factors on 68.8% capturing with 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a couple of.8 blocks over 31.8 minutes in the postseason. Washington then drafted the two-time first-team AP All-American No. 4 general days later, and head coach Sydney Johnson revealed that she’d start the season backing up Austin.

The Mystics matched the Toronto Tempo’s offer sheet for the latter participant in restricted free company hours earlier, and she or he’s made them look sensible for doing so since then. The 25-year-old is tied for twentieth in the WNBA with 16.3 factors per recreation on 51.1% capturing and is seventh with 8.5 rebounds as well as to three assists and 1.3 blocks over 30.3 minutes. She’s certainly one of solely two gamers on Washington with a number of WNBA seasons below her belt.

It can be jarring for anybody to go from being a star to a backup in a matter of weeks, however that is customary process for ladies’s basketball. Unlike the NBA, the NCAA season ends shortly earlier than WNBA coaching camp begins, and most draftees do not instantly get the identical quantity of minutes as they did in faculty. For instance, 2026 No. 1 general decide Azzi Fudd is averaging 20.7 minutes off the bench for the Wings after averaging 28.7 minutes as a starter for UConn final season.

Playing behind Austin permits Betts to step by step regulate to the skilled recreation after beginning 37 video games for the Bruins in the 2025-26 marketing campaign. Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson admitted after Monday’s loss that it is not easy to manage the frontcourt minutes between Betts, Austin, beginning energy ahead Kiki Iriafen and backup energy ahead Angela Dugalic.

“I think our frontcourt is a strength, and it’s a challenge to get everybody out there because they’re all good,” he mentioned. “Kiki and Kira are really, really good; they’re gonna play. Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic are really, really good; they’re gonna play. As we work through the season, we’re gonna get them the minutes. I want to see growth and development from all of them. We’re not gonna get too high or low in terms of our minutes, we’re four games in. There’s opportunity for all of them, and I’m fully committed to that.”

Dugalic, who was Betts’ teammate at UCLA and drafted No. 9 general by Washington in April, finds herself in the same place. The 2026 Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year is now backing up Iriafen, who’s most confirmed in the WNBA. So far, she’s averaging simply 10.5 minutes after averaging 23.8 with the Bruins final season.

Although Dugalic may gain advantage from extra reps, Iriafen has earned her function. The 2025 All-Star and All-Rookie honoree is tied for seventeenth in the WNBA with 16.5 factors per recreation on 55.6% capturing (40% 3-point) and is first with 12.8 rebounds over 29.5 minutes.

Both Dugalic and Betts might set up themselves as cornerstone items for the Mystics this yr, related to Iriafen and guard/ahead Sonia Citron final season. But in contrast to the latter two gamers in 2025, the UCLA duo was drafted onto a roster with upper-echelon gamers in entrance of it on the depth chart. That’s why Citron and Iriafen every began all 44 video games as rookies, whereas Dugalic and Betts are coming off the bench for now.

However, this is an indication of development in the Mystics’ rebuild. Contending groups do not normally have rookies dominating the rotation, which is partially why Washington was fourth-worst in the WNBA standings at 16-28 in 2025. Finishing 2026 round .500 or higher regardless of being the league’s youngest crew would present that the group is shifting in the proper path.

Up subsequent is a street matchup with the Seattle Storm on Sunday at 6:00 pm ET.