Lauren Betts, winner of the ESPY for Best College Athlete in Women’s Sports, delivered a poignant message on mental health during her acceptance speech on Wednesday night at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. The Washington Mystics rookie emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental well-being.
"I feel like I have the opportunity with this platform that I have to speak on something that is really important to me," Betts stated. "So, for a lot of people who know me, they know everything about my mental health journey — everything that I speak up about and what I’m really open about. I just want people to know for people that know about my journey is that protecting my peace is the one thing that I’ve been as fierce about with chasing my dreams."
Betts, who received the award from Bam Adebayo and French Montana, has been vocal about her past struggles with depression. She shared that her success is fundamentally linked to her mental health. "Your mental health is not separate from your success. It’s the foundation of everything that you do," she said. "The strongest people aren’t the ones who never struggle. They’re the ones who have the courage to let someone walk through their struggle with them."
A post pinned to the top of her Instagram account from March reinforces her commitment to mental health advocacy. It reads, "Mental health is real, it’s important and no one should have to through it alone. If my story helped one person feel seen, that’s bigger than anything that I could do on the court. Love you all."
Betts was recognized as the best college athlete after a standout career, including a national championship with UCLA in 2026. She was selected fourth overall by the Mystics in the WNBA Draft, part of a record five UCLA players taken in the first round. She has since been a contributor for the Mystics, averaging 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The Mystics currently hold a 12-10 record, placing them on track for a postseason appearance as the No. 7 seed.
Betts attended the ESPY Awards in a sparkling black gown with sheer detailing, a look styled by Katie Qian with makeup by Keanda Vivar.