Injury sidelines star women’s basketball freshman for Big Ten title contender

Lauren Betts will have to wait at least one more game to share the court at UCLA with her younger sister.

The Bruins, ranked third in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, have ruled out Sienna Betts for their season-opener on Monday night against San Diego State. The younger Betts, who was tabbed as the second-best recruit in the nation by ESPN, suffered a left leg injury in a closed-door scrimmage against UC Riverside.

“Sienna is going to be a no-go for our opener,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “She’s coming along great, she’s doing a great job, but we’re going to rule her out for Monday. We’re excited to get her back and get her in the mix.”

A 6-foot-4 prospect expected to play big minutes at power forward for the Bruins this season, Betts hasn’t been ruled out for the year and is expected to return soon, Close said. She’ll be listed as day-to-day after the San Diego State game.

This past summer, Betts was a key contributor to Team USA’s U19 team, which won gold at the FIBA World Cup, averaging a double-double across all competitions there while playing about 27 minutes per game.

Coming off their run to the Final Four last season, UCLA lost six players to the portal, including a starter in Londynn Jones and key off-the-bench players in Janiah Barker and Elina Aarnisalo. But the additions of Betts and transfers like Utah’s Gianna Kneepkens will soften the blow. UCLA also obviously returns standout guard Kiki Rice and the reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Lauren Betts.

After facing San Diego State, the Bruins will host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, then play No. 6 Oklahoma in a neutral site game in Sacramento, California on Monday, Nov. 10 on FS1. That game should be a big test for both UCLA and the Bruins.