> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Season In Review: Analyzing Gonzaga WBB's 2025-26 Campaign - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/season-in-review-analyzing-gonzaga-bulldogs-wbbs-2025-26-campaign/ - Published: 2026-03-29T18:38:38.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:12:58.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: Analysis, Gonzaga Women's Basketball, Lisa Fortier, Lauren Whittaker, Allie Turner, Jaiden Haile, Zeryhia Aokuso, Inês Bettencourt, Teryn Gardner, Taylor Smith, Julia Wilson, Paige Lofing ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_28389861-jpeg-format-original.jpg) A clear signal of the youth infusion Gonzaga women’s basketball had this season is the fact that there was only one senior in its rotation. Still, the Zags were victorious in 24 games, won the WCC tournament, and got back to the NCAA tournament after missing out on it the year prior. After Allie Turner broke out in her freshman season, Lauren Whittaker topped her with an unbelievable freshman campaign. And with so much of the team’s core expected to return, the Bulldogs are in great shape moving forward with several players who have already produced beyond their years. Each time head coach Lisa Fortier was asked about her squad’s turnover issue throughout the year (Gonzaga had the third-most turnovers in the conference and the second-worst turnover margin), she shrugged it off. Fortier simply attributed the lack of ball security to the youth of the team, despite it costing them in most of their 10 losses. But if you were to look at the other areas of the game, it would show why she didn’t visibly obsess over the nagging issue. So how did GU have such a successful season despite its lack of experience? **Whittaker Provides Historic Year** Having two bigs in its history who have led the program in scoring with Yvonne Ejim and Heather Bowman, the Bulldogs traditionally play through the tallest player on the floor. Well by the time it’s all set and done, Whittaker might join those two as all-time Zags. In her first year at the college level while coming off a torn ACL, Whittaker was awarded WCC Player and Freshman of the Year after averaging 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds with a 56.8% shooting percentage. The 6-2 forward displayed extreme skill and touch working on the post, looking unstoppable at times, as she logged a double-double in half of her games played (17). Whittaker was a scoring threat at all three levels, frequently pulling up for mid-range jumpers at the elbow or baseline with her quick release, while being capable of knocking down a three from the top of the key. She also showed an ability to facilitate for others when necessary, and even logged more than a steal a contest, second on her team in the category. Her consistency was unmatched, setting the table to be yet another staple on the block in Spokane for years to come. **Marksmanship From the Three-Point Line** It would’ve been tough to top her program-record 105 made threes a season ago, so Turner went the more efficient route this time around after draining 89 of them this year. Shooting 47% from the outside — which ranked second in the country — the sophomore was the leading force in Gonzaga’s 39.1% mark as a team that led all of college basketball. There were times when Turner would be taken out of games early by defense and didn’t even score by halftime, but if teams left her space, it was a death wish. Turner notched another record in GU’s final home game when she connected on nine threes en route to a career-high 29 points against Saint Mary’s. She earned All-WCC First Team honors due to her prowess both as a scorer and passer. Pulling it from anywhere on the arc while having no limit to her range, the St. Louis native is on the road to being the best shooter that ever rolled through the McCarthey Athletic Center. But the train didn’t stop with Turner. Fellow sophomore Teryn Gardner, who is from Spokane and transferred in after a year at Boise State, was dangerous as well from distance. Gardner shot the three at a 46% clip coming off the bench, firing off a high-arching shot most commonly from the corner. And as the season went on, freshman Paige Lofing earned more opportunities, hitting 42% of her attempts from beyond the arc, with her season highlight being a game-tying triple in the final seconds of regulation at Oregon State, although the Zags fell in overtime. Even first-year Julia Wilson, who is heralded as more of a defensive player, connected on nearly 43% of her shots from deep, albeit on low volume. Being snipers from deep not only allows a team to pad leads and crawl out of deficits, but the Bulldogs were able to mitigate the extra possessions they gave opponents when they were careless with the basketball. **Controlling the Pace on Both Ends** Despite Whittaker’s dominance, she averaged just under 27 minutes a game, not getting as taxing a workload as someone like Turner, who logged over 33 minutes a contest. It could’ve been to monitor Whittaker’s playing time coming off the severe injury, or a testament to the depth behind her at the forward position. Junior transfers Zeryhia Aokuso and Taylor Smith consistently improved as the calendar flipped, being two of the oldest players on the team. Aokuso finished third on Gonzaga in scoring (8.4 ppg) behind Whittaker and Turner. She was a force when attacking downhill, showcasing the ability to stop on a dime and pull up inside the arc, or get to the free-throw line after breaking down a defender. Smith played within herself, taking open jumpers peppered around the paint, shooting 48.3% from the field and grabbing 3.7 rebounds a night, both ranking third on the team. Also a stalwart defensively, Taylor led the Zags in blocks (20) and was third in steals as well (37). Because of their contributions, freshman Jaiden Haile remained in her bench role, despite exceeding expectations tremendously. Haile took home the WCC Sixth Woman of the Year Award after averaging 8.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in conference play while shooting 54.6%. Her playstyle mirrored Whittaker’s, with Fortier saying Haile would’ve won Freshman of the Year if it weren’t for her teammate. With Smith ahead of her on the depth chart, a possible tandem of Haile and Whittaker is still a year away, but the potential is striking. And at every stop, each Bulldog constantly raved about the aforementioned lone senior, Inês Bettencourt. Transferring in from UConn two seasons ago, Bettencourt provided stabilizing leadership and strong defense as GU’s point guard in her final season. She shot only 34.4% from the floor, the lowest of any of the rotation’s regulars, but took on the opposing team’s primary ball-handler each game and was impactful in the passing lanes as well as the boards. With all of the team’s expected continuity heading into next season, Bettencourt’s presence will need to be filled in some way for a still-young Bulldogs squad that hopes to replicate their production. Blatantly out-matched for most of its Round of 64 matchup with Ole Miss, the Zags’ fourth-quarter showing in that loss gave a glimpse of a potentially more seasoned unit. By building off the areas where they’re already strong and cleaning up some of the turnovers, Gonzaga could be in an even better position next year.