Gonzaga’s offseason roster puzzle could get even more interesting.
Lisa Fortier’s women’s team already kept 10 of 13 players from last season, an unusual level of continuity in the transfer era. Now Ines Bettencourt, one of the key pieces from that run, is part of a California lawsuit seeking a fifth year of eligibility for more than 45 student-athletes from the 2022 recruiting class.
The suit is asking for an injunction after the NCAA’s new “5-in-5” rules gave all student-athletes five years of competition, but did not grandfather in that recent class. Bettencourt, who spent two years at UConn and two at Gonzaga, is among the players involved. The group also includes former New Mexico and UCLA guard Donovan Dent, who was viewed as a Gonzaga men’s target, along with UCLA’s Skyy Clark, Texas point guard Jordan Pope, Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler, and former Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney, who last played at UC Santa Barbara.
For Gonzaga, Bettencourt’s possible return would be a meaningful one. Last season’s team started slowly at 6-5, with home losses to Colorado State, Stanford, and Arizona State, before finding its rhythm. The Bulldogs won 18 of their next 22 games, finished second in the WCC at 14-4, and beat Santa Clara and Oregon State to claim one final WCC Tournament title before the move to the Pac-12.
Bettencourt was central to that surge. She averaged 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and a team-best 1.5 steals, while starting all 33 games and logging 26.2 minutes per night.
The spotlight often landed elsewhere, on WCC Player of the Year Lauren Whittaker or All-WCC First Team guard Allie Turner, but Bettencourt’s value was obvious to Fortier. After the tournament championship, Fortier said, "We need everything that she does, she's our defensive anchor," Fortier said after the team's WCC Tournament championship.
"She has been able to grow and lead our team this year with such a young group. [Bettencourt] led us the last couple of weeks like a senior would.
You can't replicate that."
Bettencourt was one of three players who left the roster, joining freshman guard Paige Lofing and redshirt Vera Gunaydin, who transferred to Montana and North Alabama, respectively.
Gonzaga responded by adding transfers Emmy Roach from Rider and Jocelyn Medina from Denver, plus freshman Abby Lusk, and the Bulldogs still have two open roster spots. Roach and Medina bring defensive flexibility, but Bettencourt would add something different: another ball-handler, another perimeter defender, and a player who already knows the system.
That matters even more with Gonzaga heading into a new conference that includes Colorado State, San Diego State, and Oregon State. If the injunction is granted, Bettencourt could choose any destination she wants. Given the fit and the familiarity, a reunion in 2026-27 would make plenty of sense.
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Teke Deng Is Suddenly Turning Into A National Recruiting Battle
The recruiting buzz around Teke Deng has picked up fast, and the 7-foot center from the Class of 2027 is starting to look like the kind of big man programs circle early and then keep chasing. His shot-blocking and offensive touch have stood out in prep and AAU play, enough to put him on the radar at UNLV and draw interest from Kentucky, USC and Kansas State.
Kansas State has already made a real push, and Dengs unofficial visit there gave the staff a chance to lay out how it sees his development over time. UNLV, which offered him last month, is also working to get him on campus, so what had been a promising recruiting profile is quickly turning into a national tug-of-war for a center with a lot of runway left. [Read more 🡒]