Ines Bettencourt Returns to Gonzaga WBB, Creates Robust Backcourt Depth
During the first week of official college basketball practices, Gonzaga Athletics checked off what it hopes is the first of many boxes.
As Gonzaga women’s basketball released its official non-conference schedule and full roster, fifth-year guard Inês Bettencourt was listed among the 13 available Zags for the 2026-27 season, a pleasant surprise for a Bulldogs squad that already boasted strong continuity with 10 returning players from last year. Initally, Bettencourt was one of two graduating seniors; the other was Vera Günaydin, who transferred to North Alabama.
In mid-July, Bettencourt joined a California lawsuit seeking an injunction for a fifth year of eligibility. About a month later, that group of more than 45 student-athletes received a temporary restraining order, clearing them to play a fifth season. GU men’s basketball commit Xaivian Lee was also in the case, but Bettencourt is the first of the two to sign her financial aid agreement.
Bettencourt will enter her third year at Gonzaga after spending her first two seasons at UConn. She joins three other Zags beyond their junior years, including Zeryhia Aokuso, Taylor Smith, and McKynnlie Dalan. In Storrs, Bettencourt had a limited role and entered the portal after her sophomore season in search of increased opportunity. Her minutes tripled as a junior on the Zags, splitting time as a starter and reserve, and she set career highs across the board. Then, Bettencourt started all 33 games for the Bulldogs last year, averaging 6.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals, and was the veteran on a young squad that reached the NCAA Tournament.
Like many other players, Bettencourt entered the transfer portal after becoming eligible. At the time, it felt like the 5-9 guard might take her talents elsewhere for her fifth year instead of returning to Spokane. After Bettencourt completed four NCAA seasons, GU operated assuming that she wouldn’t be on the roster. Their main target was a taller point guard, filled by incoming transfer Emmy Roach, a 6-0 guard from Rider. The Bulldogs continued to bolster their backcourt by bringing in 5-6 senior Jocelyn Medina, as GU also lost freshman guard Paige Lofing, who transferred to Montana.
With Bettencourt back in the mix, Gonzaga has a bit of a backcourt logjam. 5-8 junior Allie Turner, one of the country’s best shooters, is a starting lineup lock. And 5-10 guard Zeryhia Aokuso, who got run at the three last season, seems to fit into that role again. But it will be interesting to see how head coach Lisa Fortier manages playing time for Bettencourt, Roach, and Medina, especially with their experience. Not to mention junior Teryn Gardner, who knocked down 43.9% of her threes off the bench for the Zags last year.
If Fortier opts to insert Roach as the team’s starting point guard, the main difference she brings is her size. Roach and Bettencourt have each struggled with efficiency throughout their careers, with the former also playing professionally in Australia. Last season, Roach shot just 40.8% from the floor, getting more usage than in her freshman year. She also wasn’t particularly productive as a facilitator, averaging only 1.0 assist per game. Still, Roach’s frame made her a good rebounder at her position and a productive defender with steals and blocks.
On the other hand, Bettencourt shot a team-low 34.4% from the field but was the Bulldogs’ point-of-attack defender. The Portuguese point guard has also posted assist rates north of 20% in her previous two seasons in Spokane while consistently improving her physicality on the boards. Bettencourt’s familiarity with the system, solidified chemistry with her teammates, and proven role with GU likely point to her as the choice at starting point guard. In that scenario, Roach could play more as a slashing wing instead of being the primary ball-handler, even alongside Bettencourt in some rotations.
Two other returning guards are also included in the cluster: 5-10 sophomore Julia Wilson and 5-11 Christabel Osarobo. Neither was a regular in the rotation, but each has a clear path to break into the lineup more often. Wilson flashed as a two-way player and could contribute as a point-of-attack defender and a downhill presence offensively. She even knocked down six of her 14 tries from 3-point range. Osarabo has more work to do on the offensive end, but has serious length on the perimeter and was called off the bench at times last season solely for defensive possessions.
Medina seems like the lowest player on the totem pole in this group, with only one Division I season under her belt and starting in just three of Denver’s games last year. She played her first two collegiate campaigns at the JUCO level, where she was as productive as possible, winning co-MVP during her sophomore year. Although Medina’s efficiency took a brutal hit last season, 44% of her shot attempts came from beyond the arc, and she could easily improve in the Zags’ ecosystem of emphasizing triples. And despite being undersized and having confined responsibilities with the Pioneers, Medina was solid on the glass and when creating shots for her teammates.
Of course, these situations are altered if Bettencourt’s TRO is revoked at some point. For the Gonzaga men’s team, Javon Bennett and Chauncey Wiggins are two 5-in-5 players currently ineligible after the NCAA was granted a stay in their respective lawsuits. So it would behoove Fortier and her staff not to prepare for that scenario, even with the varying verbiage about why these players have received their eligibility.
Regardless, GU has built great backcourt depth this offseason, making Bettencourt’s addition a luxury, not a necessity. The Zags also strengthened their frontcourt by adding 6-1 freshman Abby Lusk to last year’s WCC Player and Freshman of the Year Lauren Whittaker, WCC Sixth Woman of the Year Jaiden Haile, and Smith, who started all 33 games last season after transferring from Weber State, positioning them to make noise in the revamped Pac-12. Their first game is a little more than a month away, with a matchup against Westmont scheduled for Oct. 27 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
