UCLA commit Sienna Betts making her ‘own name’ on the hardwood
AURORA, Colo. (BVM) – Sienna Betts, the No. 2-ranked girls high school basketball player in the Class of 2025, knew she was poised for a successful basketball career from a young age. Growing up in Spain, Betts watched as her father, 7-foot-1 center Andrew Betts, played professionally following a standout collegiate career at Long Beach State and a selection in the 1998 NBA Draft.
“It was just kind of all I knew,” Sienna said. “Basketball just seemed like the right route for me.”
Sienna also had a passion for soccer growing up, but basketball ultimately won out. Part of her desire to star in the sport came thanks to her older sister, UCLA basketball star Lauren Betts.
“I think a big thing for my path as an athlete was having a star older sister,” Sienna said. “I was really competitive and I still am. I really just wanted to have my own name.
“I think my success is indirectly because of Lauren. Her presence and her being such a star has really forced me to want to work and be better than her.”
Lauren was a two-time Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American at Grandview High School. After beginning her college career at Stanford, Lauren has starred the past two years at UCLA, emerging as a national player of the year candidate in 2024-25.
“Seeing the progression of her mentality, her skill and her confidence has been so special, not just for me, but my family and a lot of people here in Colorado,” Sienna said.
At the beginning of her basketball career, Sienna sometimes was perceived as simply Lauren’s younger sister. However, she has set out to make her own name known over the last several years, beginning in middle school, when she began taking her game to the next level.
“A really defining moment for me was like seventh, eighth grade,” Sienna said. “I decided that I wanted to make a change and that I wanted to be great like my sister and my parents. I decided that I was going to work as hard as I could.”
The 6-foot-4 forward instantly thrived in high school. As a freshman, she helped Grandview to a state championship alongside Lauren, further evolving her game.
Lauren and Sienna Betts — state champions together 💙
"I'm so freaking proud of you" 🏆
@laurenbetts12 @GHSWolvesGBball #9sports pic.twitter.com/8AvDK5jLJo
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) March 13, 2022
“That year was really important for me,” Sienna said. “It taught me other stuff I was good at besides scoring … It was just a really fun year. Lauren had never won a state championship before, I really wanted it for her and myself.”
Sienna’s sophomore season was even more impressive. Heading into the campaign, the Grandview standout was uneasy about becoming the team’s focal point. She thrived in the new role, averaging 21.6 points, 16.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks while earning Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Sienna also led the Wolves to another CHSAA state title.
“That year was so special because I really wasn’t expecting anything,” Sienna said. “As the season went on, I learned what I needed to do and that if I wanted to be successful, I had to reach a different level … My team really wanted it and they were going to do whatever they could to win a state championship.
“I worked really hard and I persevered a lot. That was the year I solidified my own name.”
After winning a 17U national championship with Hardwood Elite the following summer, Sienna continued her success as a junior, averaging 22.5 points, 15.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.3 blocks while making it four straight years a member of the Betts family won Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year.
Even with the accolades and success, Sienna has stayed hungry in her final prep season as she prepares for her upcoming collegiate career.
Sienna Betts, the No. 2 player in the class of 2025, dropped an impressive 35 points in Grandview's victory over Elizabeth Seton at She Got Game Dallas! 🔥 @SiennaBetts @SheGotGame7 pic.twitter.com/eRwvl96NPh
— BallerTV (@BallerTV) December 12, 2024
“I always have something pushing me,” Sienna said. “This year, I’m really focused on preparing for college. I’m looking at what I need to work on and I’m using high school as a chance to prepare and work on these things that I’m going to need to do in college.”
Sienna, who recently became Colorado’s all-time leading rebounder, is also focused on delivering another title to Grandview.
“I really want to win a state championship,” Sienna said. “I’m so proud of my team and how hard everyone is working.”
Additional accolades may follow the 6-foot-4 forward as the season concludes, but she already received a prestigious honor earlier this year when being named a McDonald’s All-American.
Order up! 🍔
Sienna Betts is our newest @McDAAG All-American!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/oNlzdwImJB
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) January 27, 2025
“It’s the stuff that everyone looks forward to and that every basketball player wants to do,” Sienna said. “The best part with a lot of these girls is being able to hang out and make good memories that we’ll cherish throughout the rest of our careers.”
Sienna will soon become the latest All-American to play at UCLA, reuniting with Lauren for the 2025-26 season. While some may think Sienna followed her older sister to Westwood, she had her sights set on the Bruins long before Lauren transferred there.
5 ⭐️ junior Sienna Betts has committed to UCLA! 🐻 pic.twitter.com/v4VB3jrL6x
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) November 11, 2023
“UCLA was my dream school growing up,” Sienna said. “I really wanted to live in California.
“As I grew up, that was the school I was going to first. When she [Lauren] transferred from Stanford, I knew immediately that she’d go to UCLA. Everyone is convinced that I followed her there, but that’s not how it is.”
Sienna had her choice of programs to choose from during her recruiting process, but unsurprisingly, her dream school set itself apart.
“I love the coaches and I really appreciate how UCLA cares about the mental side of basketball,” Sienna said. “I love the campus and I’m going to get a great education. It just felt like a really good fit for me.”
The move to the collegiate level will be a big step for the Grandview senior. However, her past experiences have her prepared, including one of her fondest basketball memories: winning a gold medal with USA Basketball at the U18 AmeriCup in Colombia last summer.
“USA is probably my favorite basketball memory,” Sienna said. “That was something I wanted to do since I was a kid. My sister played with USA a couple of times, and with how competitive I am, I wanted that so bad. That’s the biggest accomplishment you can have with basketball … When I was able to do that, I was so proud of myself. It was such a great experience for me.”
While many UCLA fans might expect Sienna to play similarly to her sister, the Grandview senior brings different elements with her court vision, her ability to put the ball on the floor and her play in the high post. However, her goals at UCLA are the same.
“I would love to win a national championship,” Sienna said. “It would be so nice to be a part of that.
“I’m going to do whatever the team needs. I’m going to figure out what I can do best to make myself valuable for the team.”
Sienna also hopes her time at UCLA will prove to be a stepping stone to her ultimate goal of playing professionally, where she would continue adding to her family’s basketball legacy.
“That’s the end goal,” Sienna said. “Playing either here or in Europe would be so amazing. It’d just be fun to play as long as I possibly could.
“For me, it’s all about having a great mentality, being confident and positive. I think if I’m able to really develop my mental game, it’ll lead to anything I want.”
