Ines Bettencourt is officially sticking with Gonzaga for the 2026-27 season, making a surprise return after reportedly entering the transfer portal just last month. This wasn’t some big, official announcement, but her name popped up on the Bulldogs’ roster, which hit the program’s website Monday evening. Talk about a quiet comeback!
Zero Problem With A New Number
Last season, Bettencourt was rocking jersey No. 8 for the Bulldogs. But guess what? That number is now taken, heading to incoming Denver transfer Jocelyn Medina. So, our Portuguese international is switching it up and will wear No. 0 this year. It’s a fresh start, right? Bettencourt was a senior last season and a force, starting all 33 games in the backcourt. She’s now one of many college athletes snagging a fifth year of eligibility thanks to a court ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney. That ruling pushed the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility framework out to Division I athletes who started competing in 2022-23.
Her Journey Back To Spokane
Here’s the kicker though: that ruling didn’t magically override existing NCAA transfer rules or mess with roster limits. Because Bettencourt didn’t hit the transfer portal during the initial April window, it was a real question mark whether she’d even be allowed to transfer anywhere else for this upcoming season. Remember, she rolled into UConn back before the 2022-23 season, a bit off Geno Auriemma’s usual radar, coming from the Portuguese island of São Miguel and originally committing to Northwest Florida State. The 5-foot-9 guard stepped up huge her freshman year when UConn was dealing with injuries, averaging over 15 minutes for a month in December 2022. Her role faded the next season though, playing only three total minutes in the 2024 NCAA Tournament before she transferred to Gonzaga.
Last season, Bettencourt and Gonzaga made it to the NCAA Tournament, but the senior guard struggled a bit, posting middling shooting efficiency and a high turnover rate. Despite her cross-country move from Storrs to Spokane, she’s kept tight with her old UConn teammates. Paige Bueckers even came to a Gonzaga practice last November, rocking Bettencourt’s Portugal international jersey at a Bulldogs vs. Colorado State game. Now, Bettencourt is back in Spokane, ready to try and level up for her fifth year. What does this return mean for the Bulldogs’ season? We’ll have to see how she settles into that No. 0 jersey.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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