The Washington Mystics fell 92-69 to the Dallas Wings on Monday, and Lauren Betts had the best statistical game of her young WNBA career even in defeat. The 22-year-old scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting and added three rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.
Betts was one of only two Mystics to reach double figures, alongside Shakira Austin, who scored 12 points in 26 minutes. For Washington, it was another reminder of how much the team is asking from its frontcourt just four games into the season, with Betts still finding her place behind Austin.
That role is a shift from the one Betts filled at UCLA, where she led the Bruins to an NCAA title in April and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Washington drafted her No. 4 overall days later, and head coach Sydney Johnson said before the season that Betts would begin as Austin's backup.
Betts said the jump has been as demanding as expected. She described every game as highly competitive and said she is going against the best players in the league every day. She also pointed to the speed and physicality of the professional game, saying she is trying to adjust while trusting herself, keeping her own style, and building chemistry with her teammates.
Johnson has said the Mystics' frontcourt is a strength and that it is difficult to find enough minutes for everyone because the group is so deep. He said Kiki and Kira are going to play, and that Betts and Angela Dugalic are going to play too, adding that Washington is committed to their growth as the season unfolds. For now, the challenge is not whether Betts belongs. It is how quickly the Mystics can turn a crowded front line into consistent production.
