Rivalry on the Court, Friendship Off: UCLA's Betts and USC's Davidson Share Unexpected Bond
Despite playing for archrival basketball programs, UCLA's Sienna Betts and USC's Jazzy Davidson have forged a deep friendship that transcends the court.
The intensity of the UCLA-USC basketball rivalry is well-known, but for players Sienna Betts of UCLA and Jazzy Davidson of USC, their connection extends far beyond the court.
During the Big Ten media days event in Rosemont, Illinois, the two players shared a warm reunion, embracing each other as if they were long-lost friends, rather than competitors. This moment underscored the unique bond they share, a friendship that puts their rivalry in perspective.
"She’s so funny, so real, so herself and she’s so fun to hang out with and have dinner with," Betts said of Davidson. Davidson echoed the sentiment, stating, "My favorite thing about Sienna is that she’s very authentically herself and she’s very funny and honest."
Their friendship is so strong that UCLA coach Cori Close once had to rush Betts to the WNBA draft, which included her sister Lauren, after Betts attended the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with Davidson.
Betts, a sophomore forward for the defending national champion Bruins, and Davidson, the reigning USBWA national freshman of the year for the Trojans, first met at an eighth-grade basketball showcase. They became roommates at a high school camp, a pivotal moment in their developing friendship.
"I remember I got there and I saw your name and I was like, ‘Oh, we have to room together, man,’ " Betts recalled.
Initially, Betts perceived Davidson as "shy and stuck up," but that impression quickly changed. "She was very goofy, like as you can see now, a very funny, sweet girl, a silly goose," Davidson said of Betts. "Just the best."
The two athletes roomed together again while playing for USA Basketball, helping the team secure a gold medal in the Czech Republic. Their connection is evident even when they discuss their upcoming matchups.
Despite UCLA holding a 2-0 advantage in head-to-head meetings from the previous season, when USC star JuJu Watkins was sidelined, both players emphasize that their friendship remains separate from their on-court competition. They even maintained contact and had a sleepover the week before one of their cross-town games last season.
"I think we have that separation between our friendship and our basketball lives, knowing that’s separate," Davidson explained.
The possibility of playing together in the WNBA remains a shared dream. "That,” Betts said, “would be a dream come true."
