UCLA Stars Nominated for ESPY Awards

Two UCLA stars have earned nominations for 2026 ESPY Awards: women’s basketball center Lauren Betts and softball utility Megan Grant. Grant and Betts were also teammates on the women’s basketball team during the program’s national championship run this season.

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Grant Is Up For The Best-Record Breaking Performance Award

After making her women’s basketball debut with the Bruins in November, Grant returned to the softball field for her senior season. As a softball player, Grant is a three-time NFCA All-American and two-time USA Softball Player of the Year Finalist.

This season, Grant hit a career-high 42 home runs to set the NCAA single-season home runs record. Now, she is nominated for the Best-Record Breaking Performance Award.

May 29, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; UCLA Bruins utility Megan Grant (43) yells as she heads towards home plate after hitting a three run home run in the second inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the NCAA Women’s College World Series at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images

The three other nominees are Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett, cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe. Garrett broke the NFL single-season sacks record in his final season with the Cleveland Browns in 2025, Høsflot Klæbo won six gold medals at the Winter Olympics and Sawe finished a marathon in under two hours.

Betts Is Nominated For Best College Athlete in Women’s Sports

Betts has established herself as one of the best players in college women’s basketball history this season. As a senior at UCLA, she led the Bruins to the program’s first national championship in the NCAA era and became the program’s first National Defensive Player of the Year.

The two-time First-Team All-American also won the Honda Sport Award for basketball, the Big Ten Player of the Year Award and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award this season.

Dec 7, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) blocks a shot by Oregon Ducks forward Amina Muhammad (5) during the first half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

After her career at UCLA, the Washington Mystics drafted Betts with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

The three other nominees for the award are Pittsburgh volleyball star Olivia Babcock, Northwestern lacrosse attacker Madison Taylor and Oklahoma gymnast Faith Torrez.

Fan voting is open now and will remain open through July 15.

Photo Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images

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