SPOKANE, Wash. — Just a day after competing in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) quarterfinals in Minneapolis, Gonzaga’s Inês Bettencourt returned to Spokane to support her former UConn teammates as they prepared for the Sweet 16.
The Portuguese guard, who transferred to Gonzaga last spring, played a crucial role in the Zags’ 82-77 overtime loss to Minnesota, contributing 13 points, six assists, two rebounds, a block, and a steal in 21 minutes off the bench. Despite the loss, her early exit from the tournament allowed her to reunite with UConn as they arrived in Spokane for the NCAA Tournament.
Azzi Fudd, one of Bettencourt’s close friends, expressed how special it was to see her again, saying, “It’s not ideal that we’re playing across the country, but seeing Nesh makes it all worth it. It just shows the impact she had on this team.”
Bettencourt joined UConn in 2022 after an ACL injury sidelined Paige Bueckers, stepping in as a backup point guard. Though her stats were modest during her freshman year, her strong work ethic and positive attitude left a lasting impression on the team.
“She was always keeping the mood light and making everyone laugh,” Caroline Ducharme recalled. “She worked incredibly hard, putting in extra workouts on off days.”
Now at Gonzaga, Bettencourt has flourished, playing in all 35 games, including 16 starts, and averaging 6.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Even from across the country, she has remained close with her former teammates, particularly Fudd, who hosted her for Christmas in Virginia.
On Friday, Bettencourt watched UConn practice in an empty McCarthey Athletic Center before reuniting with the team later in the day. She also sat with UConn’s family and friends section during their Sweet 16 win over Oklahoma.
“We miss her a lot,” Ducharme said. “Even though she was only here for a couple of years, her impact on all of us, on and off the court, is really special.”
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