Basketball player Ana Barreto is back at Benfica, having signed a contract valid until 2027 with the club.
The former Portuguese youth international returns to the *Encarnados* (the Reds), a club she previously represented during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons—a period in which she won two National Championships, two Portuguese Cups, a Super Cup, and a Federation Cup.
“I am very happy to be back; I come with more experience, I want everyone to come and support us, and I want to win many titles at Benfica,” stated the 23-year-old wing, who returns to the club after a four-year stint in US college basketball (Ball State and Queens Royals).
“I bring an experience that is quite different from what one finds in Portugal. That gives me a different perspective on basketball,” she explained, noting that these different environments helped her “grow significantly.”
The player now considers herself “much more complete and physical,” having also improved her on-court communication. She returns “eager to be home,” ready to “give it her all” and “showcase the evolution” she has achieved.
With appearances at the European Championship and the U-20 World Cup on her resume, Ana Barreto joins the three-time national champions with the clear goal of adding more trophies to the cabinet. “It’s about adding to our success. Everything we compete for is about adding to that—Portuguese Cups, Championships, Super Cups… and having a strong campaign in European competitions as well,” she emphasized.
The athlete, who developed her skills at Sport Algés e Dafundo and Quinta dos Lombos—and also spent time at the Jamor High-Performance Center—expressed that she is “highly motivated” to work under coach Ricardo Vasconcelos. For Ana Barreto, the guiding principle is clear: “Benfica is a massive club that is always competing for titles,” so the goal is “to maintain the mindset of winning titles and plenty of games.”
In a moment of gratitude, the basketball player acknowledged her parents’ support and shared a “special message” for her grandfather, who passed away while she was in the United States: “I know that if he were here, he would be very happy.”
