WNBA Star Lauren Betts Ruled the ESPYS Red Carpet with Confidence and Intention

3 min readAmidst the dazzling glow and prestige of the 2026 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards, pro basketball player Lauren Betts shined on the red carpet with what she calls “intentionality.”“I like every outfit to feel like it has a purpose and reflects who I am,” the 6’7” center for the Washington Mystics tells Women’s Health. Lauren donned a bold and timeless black sequin dress for the event, styled by Katie Qian. “I actually considered this look for [the] draft, and am so happy I get to wear it for another special occasion.”She was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, after leading UCLA to its first NCAA Championship earlier this year. Her accolades don’t stop there. She also led Team USA to gold medals in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2021 and the FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship in 2019.Wednesday night at the ESPYs was no different. Lauren took home the award for Best College Athlete in Women’s Sports. She moved with confidence from the court, to the carpet, and finally the stage to receive her award at Lincoln Center in New York City. During her acceptance speech, she thanked her family, her idols, and her team, shedding light on mental health and how she has emerged confidently and courageously through her own journey.“Looking good definitely helps me feel more confident,” Lauren says. “It's kind of the same mindset I have before a game—when I know I feel good walking in, I'm able to relax, be present, and enjoy the moment instead of worrying about anything else.”Empowering Others Through Beauty and Balling Lauren’s look at the ESPYS was eye-catching and glamorous—courtesy of makeup artist Keanda Vivar—featuring NYX Professional Makeup products like the Buttermelt Blush in shades Sonner the Butta and U Know Butta and The Brow Glue Crazy Life Brow Lamination Gel to accentuate her brows and cheekbones.As the face of the NYX “Make Them Look” campaign, Lauren represents the brand's vision of “elevating, celebrating, and redefining how female athletes are represented in beauty,” according to a release from NYX in March.Get Lauren’s ESPYs LookNYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue Crazy Lift GelNYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Color Shadow Palette in Paradise ShockNYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Blur Tint Soft Matte FoundationNYX Professional Makeup Wonder Snatch ConcealerNow 14% OffNYX Professional Makeup Wonder Snatch Setting PowderNYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Powder BlushNow 10% OffNYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip PencilNYX Professional Makeup Butter GlossNYX is a staple in Lauren’s beauty round-up—especially the lip combos. “It's the last thing I put on before I walk out the door and it just pulls everything together,” she says. “The NYX Professional Makeup Slim Lip Pencil in Prune is my absolute favorite.”Chastity MorganLauren pulls beauty inspiration from the people around her, using that to influence her own authentic look. And her love of beauty doesn’t come at the cost of sacrificing her love of basketball. It’s all about balance. She wants other athletes to know that they don’t have to choose one or the other, either.“You can be competitive, tough, and dominant on the court while also embracing beauty and fashion off of it,” Lauren says. “They're just different ways of expressing who you are, and I love that women's sports are creating more space for athletes to show every side of themselves.”As Lauren continues to dominate on and off the court, she remains an inspiration to those around her—in both the beauty world and the sports world.Nia Watson is an editorial intern at Women’s Health. She recently completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in Journalism at New York University. She has written about chronic reproductive health conditions like endometriosis and nutrition for Rewire News Group and The 19th News, as well as about the food and beverage industry in NYC for AmNewYork. She loves starting her morning with yoga and coffee; and when she’s not writing, she enjoys wandering around Central Park.