University of Georgia Athletics
Gonzalez Determined to Prove Herself at UGA
November 12, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Adam Greene
UGA Sports Communications
Enjulina Gonzalez's path to the University of Georgia has been anything but straightforward. The junior guard from Miami, Fla, began her collegiate basketball career at Mercer, about 80 miles from Athens. After overcoming injury, she transferred to Miami-Ohio and really put her name on the map. Following a season in which she averaged 16 points, four rebounds and two assists per game, and earned first-team All-MAC honors, Gonzalez still had her sights set on more.
In mid-April, Gonzalez announced her transfer to Georgia. "It was exciting," Gonzalez said. "I knew I wanted to play at the next level and in the best conference." She had heard people say that "mid-majors can't make it to the SEC," so she set out to show that they can.
"I didn't even just want to prove it to other people," she said, "but to myself. Prove to myself that I can make it here and compete at the highest level."
Once she decided to leave Miami (Ohio), she described the transfer-portal process as stressful. "I knew I wanted to come closer to home," Gonzalez said, citing one of the reasons she began her career at Mercer. However, the opportunity to play for the Bulldogs was one she couldn't pass up, and ultimately pulled her to Athens. She also noted that the coaches "harp so much on player-coach relationships."
When Gonzalez arrived, she felt herself bonding with her teammates almost instantly. "Everyone gets along so well. That's the best part. You want people to push you, be your biggest motivators on and off the court. We're each other's biggest supporters. That goes so far because we all want to see each other get better."
No matter how well she gelled with her teammates, Gonzalez knew she still needed to put in the work to succeed on the court. "I've seen myself getting better, especially mentally, and I'm just trying to be whatever the team needs at the moment." She wants to play her role, play it well, and contribute to winning. If everyone buys into that culture, she believes there are no limits to how much each player can grow.
"I'm going to get better regardless, because I want it for myself. That's an intrinsic motivation that I have," she said.
Some of the specifics Gonzalez and the coaching staff have emphasized since her arrival have already shown themselves. She aims to "be a pest on defense and be fast pushing the ball in transition."
In her Bulldog debut on Nov. 3, Gonzalez recorded nine points, four steals and five rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench against Alabama State. Three days later, against Furman, she had 11 points, three rebounds and a steal in 26 minutes. In Monday's 78-44 win over USC Upstate, Gonzalez missed her only two shots but still contributed with a rebound, an assist and a steal. Through three games, she's averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game.
Going forward, she's focused on "doing what [she] does best." Gonzalez can impact a game in a variety of ways. "Whether that's my pull-up or my shot, just trusting myself with it," she said. "They pour a lot of confidence in me, so I want to take that confidence and run with it."
Now that Gonzalez is playing in the SEC, she doesn't want to lose the drive that got her here. Surrounded by teammates and coaches pushing her to be the best version of herself, she reminds herself that she still has "higher standards and expectations for [herself]." And while she's motivated, she also understands there will be times she falls short, and those moments sting.
"Those times remind me that I'm here and I'm going to make mistakes. That's just part of it," she said.
Even this far into her career, Gonzalez said, "nerves are always a part of" every game she plays. "That just means I truly do care." Still, as she settles into her role with the Lady Bulldogs, she expects to feel more comfortable "getting to [her] spots and shooting. I know I can shoot," Gonzalez said.
Even on nights when her shot isn't falling, she knows she can impact a game in other ways. Defense never slumps, and her defensive presence gives her the ability to take over a game. And as someone who shot 37% from 3-point range last season, she won't hesitate to let it fly.
"We just want to win, and I think we have the team for it," Gonzalez said. As long as she's contributing to a winning team, she isn't worried about her own numbers. "When we think we can do something, we can do anything."
Proving to herself that she can compete at this level, and helping her team prove it can win in one of the nation's toughest conferences, are her main goals moving forward.
Keep an eye out for Gonzalez this season: "I want to shock people," she said.
UGA Sports Communications
Enjulina Gonzalez's path to the University of Georgia has been anything but straightforward. The junior guard from Miami, Fla, began her collegiate basketball career at Mercer, about 80 miles from Athens. After overcoming injury, she transferred to Miami-Ohio and really put her name on the map. Following a season in which she averaged 16 points, four rebounds and two assists per game, and earned first-team All-MAC honors, Gonzalez still had her sights set on more.
In mid-April, Gonzalez announced her transfer to Georgia. "It was exciting," Gonzalez said. "I knew I wanted to play at the next level and in the best conference." She had heard people say that "mid-majors can't make it to the SEC," so she set out to show that they can.
"I didn't even just want to prove it to other people," she said, "but to myself. Prove to myself that I can make it here and compete at the highest level."
Once she decided to leave Miami (Ohio), she described the transfer-portal process as stressful. "I knew I wanted to come closer to home," Gonzalez said, citing one of the reasons she began her career at Mercer. However, the opportunity to play for the Bulldogs was one she couldn't pass up, and ultimately pulled her to Athens. She also noted that the coaches "harp so much on player-coach relationships."
When Gonzalez arrived, she felt herself bonding with her teammates almost instantly. "Everyone gets along so well. That's the best part. You want people to push you, be your biggest motivators on and off the court. We're each other's biggest supporters. That goes so far because we all want to see each other get better."
No matter how well she gelled with her teammates, Gonzalez knew she still needed to put in the work to succeed on the court. "I've seen myself getting better, especially mentally, and I'm just trying to be whatever the team needs at the moment." She wants to play her role, play it well, and contribute to winning. If everyone buys into that culture, she believes there are no limits to how much each player can grow.
"I'm going to get better regardless, because I want it for myself. That's an intrinsic motivation that I have," she said.
Some of the specifics Gonzalez and the coaching staff have emphasized since her arrival have already shown themselves. She aims to "be a pest on defense and be fast pushing the ball in transition."
In her Bulldog debut on Nov. 3, Gonzalez recorded nine points, four steals and five rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench against Alabama State. Three days later, against Furman, she had 11 points, three rebounds and a steal in 26 minutes. In Monday's 78-44 win over USC Upstate, Gonzalez missed her only two shots but still contributed with a rebound, an assist and a steal. Through three games, she's averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game.
Going forward, she's focused on "doing what [she] does best." Gonzalez can impact a game in a variety of ways. "Whether that's my pull-up or my shot, just trusting myself with it," she said. "They pour a lot of confidence in me, so I want to take that confidence and run with it."
Now that Gonzalez is playing in the SEC, she doesn't want to lose the drive that got her here. Surrounded by teammates and coaches pushing her to be the best version of herself, she reminds herself that she still has "higher standards and expectations for [herself]." And while she's motivated, she also understands there will be times she falls short, and those moments sting.
"Those times remind me that I'm here and I'm going to make mistakes. That's just part of it," she said.
Even this far into her career, Gonzalez said, "nerves are always a part of" every game she plays. "That just means I truly do care." Still, as she settles into her role with the Lady Bulldogs, she expects to feel more comfortable "getting to [her] spots and shooting. I know I can shoot," Gonzalez said.
Even on nights when her shot isn't falling, she knows she can impact a game in other ways. Defense never slumps, and her defensive presence gives her the ability to take over a game. And as someone who shot 37% from 3-point range last season, she won't hesitate to let it fly.
"We just want to win, and I think we have the team for it," Gonzalez said. As long as she's contributing to a winning team, she isn't worried about her own numbers. "When we think we can do something, we can do anything."
Proving to herself that she can compete at this level, and helping her team prove it can win in one of the nation's toughest conferences, are her main goals moving forward.
Keep an eye out for Gonzalez this season: "I want to shock people," she said.
Players Mentioned
G
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