Lakota Beatty is from Anadarko, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of George and Michelle Beatty. She is an enrolled member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and is also Dakota of Spirit Lake and Standing Rock, North Dakota and Nakoda and A’aniiih of Fort Belknap, Montana.

Attending Anadarko High School, she played in four state tournaments, winning the state championship in 2012. Still holding the record for most points scored in Anadarko history, she scored over 2,000 points. Beatty was named to the OCA and OGBCA All-State teams, the Oklahoma Super-Five Team twice, was Jim Thorpe Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year, and named a Parade All-American.

Beatty had multiple NCAA Division 1 offers, ultimately choosing Oklahoma State University. While at OSU she played in two NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Sweet 16 her freshman year. After two years there, she transferred in-state to Division I Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Beatty finished her collegiate career with All First-Team Summit League and as of now (2023) she still currently holds the all-time career highest 3-point percentage at 43%. Beatty received her bachelor’s degree in sport management and then began her master’s degree in professional counseling.

In 2019 Beatty began hosting her own basketball camps. Lakota Beatty Basketball has a trauma-informed approach that focuses on the importance of mental health on/off the court and aims to help other athletes get the same opportunities and experiences that she had. Lakota has been lucky enough to visit over 75 communities, Native and non-Native, sharing her story of overcoming trials and accomplishing her goals.

In 2022 Beatty came out of retirement and signed her first professional basketball contract to play in Aotearoa, New Zealand. In 2023 she signed her next contract to play in The Netherlands where she is currently playing for the 2023-2024 season. After signing her first pro contract, she began representing Indigenous people on a global level as a Nike N7 Athlete.

After she retires, she plans on venturing into sports psychology while also serving her Indigenous people with a blend of western, holistic, and traditional methodologies.