BRNO (Czechia) - Since arriving as the number one prospect to watch at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025, Sienna Betts has lived up to top billing with a string of classy displays. While anyone expecting crazy headline numbers might be feeling a little short-changed, Betts has still been box-office. At least when you consider the important context of needing to be team-orientated in a super deep roster dripping with talent.
Second in the competition in efficiency at 24.8 per outing. It's a figure harvested from a magnificent tournament double-double of 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game - helped by a superb 62 percent field goal percentage.
I am thinking about the amazing USA players who have worn these numbers before
It's the physical dominance of Betts which is truly a difference-maker. Her shot selection, paint moves, rebounding, shot-blocking and passing from the high post are all components that make her such a fine player and prospect.
But that skill-set and basketball IQ within such an imposing physical frame, really does make for a potent mix. Especially when she shows so much composure whenever an inevitable double-team arrives.
Being crowned TISSOT MVP looked a distinct possibility before the first ball was thrown up in Brno and that prospect remains firmly in place - even if teammate Saniyah Hall is doing everything she can to rival Betts for the accolade right now.
Not that the player herself is taking too much notice of any hype. She has stepped into this event determined to simply extend the USA's astonishing resume - one that they added to by beating France in the Quarter-Finals to post a new record high winning streak.
"It's just amazing to be part of the USA U19 Women's Basketball legacy," insisted Betts.
"I am thinking about the amazing USA players who have worn these numbers before as we try to now add to that history. It is great to see how we compare against people that we don't get to see much in competition.
"I am also just really excited to hopefully win [the title], but to also have some great memories with all my friends and teammates as we are all really, really close."
Betts is following in the family footsteps - again. Her older sister Lauren played in the competition four years ago in Debrecen, Hungary - winning gold alongside the likes of Caitlin Clark. But that was during the pandemic era - a fact not lost on Sienna.
She added: "We are lucky with the timing [for this one]. It's such a fun experience and it's not every day that you to travel to a place like Czechia and play against players from all around the world."
Sporting comparisons with her sister are set to continue. In fact they will be magnified to the absolute max in coming months. That's because Sienna is preparing to line up alongside her older sibling at UCLA during 2025-26 - in what could prove to be quite the tandem in the paint.
Meanwhile, with younger brother Dylan making impressive progress on the court and their father Andy a former pro baller in Europe, there is only one topic of conversation during the times they all get to sit around the kitchen table.
"It's a very common topic for us - basketball connects us all and we are really, really lucky to be able to have that between us - as well as being able to talk about all our different things," smiled Betts.
"We are all very competitive too, so it always ends up being about who's best at this and who's best at that.
"But at the end of the day we're very supportive of each other's basketball journeys." This next step for Betts on her own journey is looking more and more like being a golden one in Brno. You would not back against her taking USA to more glory and putting another winners medal into the family trophy cabinet - and maybe even the ultimate individual accolade too.
FIBA