SPOKANE, WA - February 26, 2026. The McCarthey Athletic Center was electric, and Gonzaga's senior guard Ines Bettencourt put on a masterclass in control. She dropped 8 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in a gritty 74 - 65 victory over the Saint Mary's Gaels. The stat line wasn't loud. But it was the perfect snapshot of her value - steady, efficient, and pivotal in a game that would decide the WCC crown.
That night was more than just a win. It was the launchpad for a wild six-month ride that would take Bettencourt from college hardwood to the EuroLeague stage. In the first half alone, she controlled the tempo like a seasoned floor general, knocking down two of her four three-point attempts and locking in defensively. The Zags needed every bit of that composure against a Gaels squad that refused to back down. When the final buzzer sounded, though, one thing was clear: this was Bettencourt's team, and she wasn't done writing her story.
The Senior Season That Shook the WCC
Bettencourt's final year in a Gonzaga uniform was one for the record books. She finished the regular season with a staggering 29 - 2 overall record and a 16 - 2 mark in WCC play, sharing the conference title with Saint Mary's. But Bettencourt and company made sure there was no doubt about who the true WCC kings were. They stormed through the conference tournament and defeated the Gaels again - this time 68 - 61 in Las Vegas on March 10 - to secure the automatic bid.
Her individual brilliance didn't go unnoticed. She earned Second Team All-WCC honors, but more importantly, her ability to hit spark-plug threes (finishing the season at 38.7% from deep) landed her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
📊 38.7% from three-point range - Bettencourt finished with the third-best 3PT percentage in the entire WCC, making her one of the most dangerous perimeter threats in the conference.
That momentum carried into the Big Dance, where Gonzaga earned a No. 1 seed in the Portland 4 Region. They cruised to the Sweet Sixteen before falling in a heartbreaker to UCLA, 72 - 69, in overtime. In that loss, Bettencourt poured in 11 points, proving she was the clutch leader the Zags could rely on when the lights were brightest.
| Category | Regular Season | WCC Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPG | 12.3 | 11.0 | 10.5 |
| APG | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.8 |
| SPG | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| 3PT% | 38.7% | 40.0% | 35.7% |
| Result | 29 - 2 record | WCC Champions | Sweet Sixteen |
From Undrafted to Unstoppable: The Pro Shift
For many college stars, the dream ends with the NCAA tournament. For Bettencourt, it was just a pivot. When the WNBA Draft came and went on April 13, 2026, without her name being called, it would have been easy to see it as a setback. Instead, Bettencourt treated it as fuel. She had already declared on April 1, and with a career total of 1,204 points and 412 assists at Gonzaga, her resume spoke for itself.
The overseas market came calling, and on July 15, 2026, she signed a one-year contract with Hungarian powerhouse Sopron Basket. The deal - reportedly worth €120,000 gross - immediately slotted her into a starting guard role for their 2026 - 27 EuroLeague Women campaign. It wasn't the WNBA, but for Bettencourt, it was the perfect landing spot to showcase her high-IQ play against the best competition in Europe.
📊 1,204 career points, 412 assists, 198 steals - Bettencourt's four-year Gonzaga legacy places her among the most productive guards in program history.
Adding to her professional glow-up, she secured a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike back in June, locking in a reported $75,000 annual value. According to ESPN's coverage of the overseas free agency market, Bettencourt was one of the most sought-after undrafted guards in this cycle - a testament to how much her college tape spoke for itself. The Spokesman-Review also highlighted her transition as a major storyline for Gonzaga alumni following the Zags' postseason run.
Preseason Bumps and a Clear Horizon
As of late August 2026, Bettencourt is deep in preseason training with Sopron, but it hasn't been without a scare. On August 5, she suffered a mild right ankle sprain during a friendly. The good news? The injury is minor. Reports from the club indicate she is expected to be fully cleared by September 10, meaning she won't miss any official competition ahead of the October EuroLeague season tip-off.
