The dress was black. Sequins everywhere.
It felt timeless, which is exactly why Washington Mystics center Lauren Betts wore it to the 2026 ESPYs.
“I like every outfit to feel like a purpose,” she tells Women’s Health.
Not just a suit. Not just a look. Intent.
She styled it with Katie Qian, saved this exact design from when she thought she might wear it to the draft, and was happy to recycle the moment. She is 6 foot 7. The sequins catch the light.
The timing works out perfectly, mostly because 2026 has been a stacked year for the UCLA alum. She led them to their first-ever NCAA title earlier this season. She went #4 overall in the WNBA Draft. Then, on Wednesday, she swept into Lincoln Center to win Best College Athlete in Women’s Sport.
Her resume already looked good before that.
- FIBA U19 World Cup Gold (2021)
- FIBA U16 Americas Championship Gold (2019)
On the stage, she spoke about family. Idols. Team. Then she touched on something heavier, the mental load of it all. Coming out confidently. Coming out courageously.
But look closer.
Before the speech. Before the stage. There was the red carpet.
“Looking good helps me feel more confident,” she says.
Think of it like a warmup.
If she knows she feels good walking in she relaxes. She stops worrying about the noise and gets present. It’s a mindset trick. One that translates from the vanity table straight to the paint.
Cheap makeup, expensive impact
The face of it was handled by Keanda Vivar. The products?
NYX Professional Makeup.
Lauren is the face of their “Make Them Look” campaign now. That launched in March. The idea is to change how female athletes are shown in beauty ads. To elevate them. Celebrate them. Redefine the box.
On the carpet she wore Sonner the Butta on her brows and cheekbones, alongside U Know Butta.
“They’re different ways of expressing who I am.”
Lip color was the finisher.
Prune is her favorite shade. NYX is a staple for her, mostly because of those lip combos. She puts them on last, right before the door closes behind her. It pulls everything together.
Does it cost much?
Nah. We are talking about $13 foundation territory. Cheap thrills. Expensive results.
She pulls inspiration from everyone around her. Friends. Peers. Random strangers maybe. But the main point is consistency. You do not have to drop the makeup to pick up the ball. You can be tough on the court. You can still be glamorous off of it.
Lauren seems to think women’s sports are finally making space for that. For the whole person, not just the jersey number.
She’s still finding her feet with the Mystics. Still navigating the transition. Still deciding what kind of center she wants to be.
That’s the interesting part, really. Not just the wins. Not even the red carpet looks. It’s the fact that she’s allowed to be both things at once.
Dominant. Glittering.
We will see what happens next.
