Alex Bentley
A dynamic point guard who carved out a lasting WNBA career before switching international allegiance to lead Belarus onto the global stage.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 27·Millennials
Biography
Alex Bentley's basketball journey is a story of relentless drive and strategic reinvention. At Penn State, she left as one of the program's all-time leading scorers, a testament to her fearless offensive style. Drafted into the WNBA, she became a reliable sparkplug off the bench for a decade, known for her quick hands on defense and an ability to score in bursts that could change a game's momentum. Her professional path took her across the globe, from Turkey to Russia, honing her game. The most unexpected chapter began in 2018, when, through ancestral heritage, she gained citizenship and began playing for the Belarusian national team. Overnight, she became their most potent offensive weapon, shouldering the scoring load and leading them in major competitions. Bentley transformed from a valued role player in the league to a national team centerpiece, showcasing a versatile and enduring talent.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 13th overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream and played ten seasons in the league.
- Averaged a career-high 11.2 points per game in 2015 and was a consistent contender for the Sixth Woman of the Year award.
- Became the naturalized leader and primary scorer for the Belarus women's national basketball team, competing in EuroBasket tournaments.
- Finished her collegiate career at Penn State as the fifth-leading scorer in school history with over 1,800 points.
- Won a Russian Premier League championship with Dynamo Kursk in 2017.
Did You Know?
She is a cousin of former NFL quarterback David Garrard.
Bentley led the Big Ten in scoring during her senior year at Penn State.
She played for three different WNBA teams: Atlanta, Connecticut, and Los Angeles.
Her switch to represent Belarus was made possible through a grandmother's Belarusian citizenship.
“I'm coming in to pressure the ball and make something happen.”
