What happened to Lauren Betts? UCLA star briefly exits national championship game with throat issue

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What happened to Lauren Betts? UCLA star briefly exits national championship game with throat issue originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

UCLA got off to another blazing start in the national championship game, taking an early lead over South Carolina, but the focus quickly shifted to Lauren Betts' health.

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The Bruins star was seen on the bench struggling with an apparent throat issue, coughing into a towel as the rest of her team played on. She returned at the start of the second quarter.

UCLA is pursuing its first title since 1978 and first of the women's NCAA Tournament era, but the path would have become much more difficult without Betts on the floor.

Here's what you need to know about Betts' apparent injury and her explanation.

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What happened to Lauren Betts' throat?

Betts was seen favoring her throat and repeatedly coughing on the sideline, though UCLA's medical staff didn't appear to be intensely treating her.

Even as Betts stood up and walked around during a break, she was still coughing and reaching for her throat. 

Betts told ESPN's Holly Rowe that she simply had something stuck in her throat. "I don’t know what’s going on, I think it’s really dry out here in Phoenix, so I just had something stuck in there. but I’m good, I’m all good," she said. 

UCLA had no trouble in the first quarter even when Betts was sidelined. The Bruins led 21-10 after one, with four points and three rebounds from Betts in the early minutes before she went to the bench.

Fortunately for UCLA, Betts returned for the start of the second quarter and helped the Bruins build on their lead.

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Does Lauren Betts have asthma?

There is no confirmation that Betts has asthma, and her explanation for the throat issue indicates she doesn't believe it was asthma related.

Betts was given an inhaler on the bench as she tried to figure out what was wrong with her throat, however, and it's unclear whether that has anything to do with asthma. 

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