"Gotta chance to watch Lauren Betts play": A'ja Wilson makes her feelings known on No. 1 UCLA star amid stellar season

Women's basketball is amid a golden era and A'ja Wilson got a chance to see one of the game's rising stars in action this week. UCLA star Lauren Betts is considered one of the top women's college basketball players in the country, and the 21-year-old put on another dazzling display against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday.

Betts was the No. 1 ranked recruit in the 2022 high school class by ESPN. Coaches, scouts and players across the nation are starting to take notice of the dominant center, and WNBA star A'ja Wilson was the latest to comment on the highly rated prospect.

On Sunday, Wilson dropped a message of support for Betts along with a GIF on her Threads account.

"Gotta chance to watch Lauren Betts play today… eYEA 💅," wrote Wilson.

A'ja Wilson on UCLA center Lauren Betts. Photo Credit: A'ja Wilson's Threads account

Wilson was likely referring to Betts' stellar outing against the Hoosiers at the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The 6-foot-7 center finished with a game-high 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting and recorded 12 rebounds. She also chipped in with three assists two blocks and a steal to guide her team to a 73-62 win over Indiana.

Betts originally committed to Stanford University but transferred to UCLA after her freshman season. She is thriving in her junior year in Southern California under head coach Cori Close. Over 13 games this season, Betts is averaging 19.8 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.2 blocks.

Led by Betts' strong performances, UCLA currently has a perfect 15-0 record and is the No. 1 ranked team in the nation.

Wilson knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. This year, the Las Vegas Aces superstar added a third WNBA MVP crown to her resume. She is a six-time All-Star and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Wilson also has two WNBA championships to her name, winning the title in 2022 and 2023 with the Aces.

LeBron James congratulates A'ja Wilson after WNBA superstar secures third MVP trophy

Los Angeles Lakers guard LeBron James, Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson. Photo Credits: Imagn

2024 turned out to be a memorable year for A'ja Wilson. The 28-year-old South Carolina native was a member of the USA women's national team that won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. At home, Wilson's outstanding production in the WNBA saw her named the league MVP for the third time.

There were plenty of congratulatory messages for the Aces center with LA Lakers star LeBron James one of the many celebrities to shout out Wilson. In September, James shared an image of Wilson on his Instagram story with the word "unanimous" across it.

LeBron James congratulates A'ja Wilson after she wins her third MVP award. Photo Credit: LeBron James' IG account

Wilson became the first player in 27 years to be unanimously voted the MVP. She is also one of only four players in WNBA history to win the prestigious award on three occasions. Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Lauren Jackson are the three other players to achieve the feat.