From the hardwood of Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado, to the national stage of college basketball, Lauren Betts is making history — and taking UCLA with her.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore center powered the Bruins to their first-ever NCAA Women’s Final Four with a 72-65 victory over LSU in the Elite Eight on Sunday in Spokane. Betts finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and six blocks — despite sitting out the entire second quarter due to early foul trouble.

“Credit to my teammates for holding it down while I was out,” Betts said during the postgame trophy celebration. And they did just that. Gabriela Jaquez stepped up with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Timea Gardiner chipped in 15 points, including a key 3-pointer in the first half that helped UCLA gain momentum.

The Bruins (34-2) will now face the winner of UConn vs. USC on Friday night in Tampa, with a national championship berth on the line.

Betts’ presence was felt from the opening tip, scoring early in the first and anchoring the defense with her shot-blocking and rim protection. But after two quick fouls sent her to the bench in the first quarter, the game hung in the balance.

UCLA led 31-25 at halftime, largely thanks to Gardiner’s nine first-half points and a gritty defensive effort. When Betts returned in the second half, she immediately made an impact with a quick layup and a swatted shot on the other end. At one point, UCLA led by 14 before LSU fought back behind Flau’Jae Johnson’s game-high 28 points. But every time the Tigers surged, the Bruins responded.

A late 3-pointer by Jaquez with 90 seconds left put the game out of reach and sent UCLA dancing into the Final Four.

It’s a monumental moment for the Bruins, who last won a national title in 1978 — before the NCAA officially sponsored women’s basketball. This year marks their first NCAA regional final win in program history.

For Betts, this postseason has been nothing short of dominant. Coming into the Elite Eight, she posted back-to-back games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds — a rare feat matched by only two other players in the last 25 NCAA tournaments. Her combination of size, footwork, and scoring touch has made her a matchup nightmare throughout March.

Raised in Colorado and a national star at Grandview, Betts was the No. 1 recruit in the country out of high school. Now, she’s proving she’s more than hype — she’s a force. And as UCLA looks ahead to Tampa, Betts remains the centerpiece of a team with championship aspirations and a hunger to keep rewriting history.

From Aurora to the Final Four — Lauren Betts is just getting started.