Boston College Athletics

Gabriela Bernal Ortellado Signs with Women's Basketball
May 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College women's basketball is excited to announce the signing of Gabriel Bernal Ortellado.
"We are so excited to welcome Gabi to Boston," said head coach Kate Popovec-Goss. "Gabi is a tremendously skilled post player with a versatile offensive skill set. Â She has great hands, finishes at the rim, but her most valuable skill is her ability to pass and facilitate offense. Â Gabi is also a great shot blocker and rebounder, and her extensive international playing experience has allowed her to mature beyond her years on the court. Â Welcome home, Gabi!"
Bernal Ortellado is the fourth international signee, joining Daniele Paunksnyte (Lithuania), Megan Hollingsworth (Canada) and Eunicia Salgado (Canada).
A 6-3 center from Asunción, Paraguay, Bernal attended Edison Academics in Orlando, Fla., where she was named to the 2025-26 All-Grind Session Team and the All-Defensive Team. She played her travel ball with the Miami Suns, ranking in the top 10 in rebounding at the Nike Nationals.
For Team Paraguay at the 2024 FIBA South American Championship, she averaged 10 points and 9.4 rebounds and shot 48.7 percent from the field. She posted four games with double-digit rebounds and a pair of double-doubles, highlighted by a 17-point, 12-rebound performance against Bolivia.
Bernal Ortellado competed with the U17 Paraguay National Team in 2023 at the South American Women's Championship and with the U15 Paraguay National Team in 2022, averaging 12.8 points and 13.5 rebounds over 10 games.
The daughter of Christian Bernal and Natalia Ortellado, she has two siblings, Agustina and Paula.Â
"We are so excited to welcome Gabi to Boston," said head coach Kate Popovec-Goss. "Gabi is a tremendously skilled post player with a versatile offensive skill set. Â She has great hands, finishes at the rim, but her most valuable skill is her ability to pass and facilitate offense. Â Gabi is also a great shot blocker and rebounder, and her extensive international playing experience has allowed her to mature beyond her years on the court. Â Welcome home, Gabi!"
Bernal Ortellado is the fourth international signee, joining Daniele Paunksnyte (Lithuania), Megan Hollingsworth (Canada) and Eunicia Salgado (Canada).
A 6-3 center from Asunción, Paraguay, Bernal attended Edison Academics in Orlando, Fla., where she was named to the 2025-26 All-Grind Session Team and the All-Defensive Team. She played her travel ball with the Miami Suns, ranking in the top 10 in rebounding at the Nike Nationals.
For Team Paraguay at the 2024 FIBA South American Championship, she averaged 10 points and 9.4 rebounds and shot 48.7 percent from the field. She posted four games with double-digit rebounds and a pair of double-doubles, highlighted by a 17-point, 12-rebound performance against Bolivia.
Bernal Ortellado competed with the U17 Paraguay National Team in 2023 at the South American Women's Championship and with the U15 Paraguay National Team in 2022, averaging 12.8 points and 13.5 rebounds over 10 games.
The daughter of Christian Bernal and Natalia Ortellado, she has two siblings, Agustina and Paula.Â
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