Natalie Achonwa

College career

Achonwa was the first international player recruited to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team. In 2011 she was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team and selected Big East Freshman of the Week.

She made the NCAA Raleigh Regional All-Tournament Team in 2012 and was an Honorable Mention for the Associated Press All-America Team in her junior season. In her final home game on March 31, 2014, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament with about five minutes left in a 19-point victory over Baylor. In 2015 she was selected as the Notre Dame Representative in the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Legends Class.

Professional career

Achonwa was drafted ninth overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2014 WNBA draft but sat out the entire 2014 season due to a left knee injury suffered during her senior year at Notre Dame. While rehabbing in fall 2014, she worked as interim Director of Operations for the Notre Dame women's basketball program, filling in for Katie Schwab, who was hospitalized with a life-threatening illness. She signed her rookie contract with the Fever in February 2015 and returned for the 2015 season, averaging eight points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 28 games with 17 starts as a backup center.

The Fever finished third in the East with a 20–14 record, and Achonwa was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. Led by Tamika Catchings and Marissa Coleman, the Fever advanced to the Finals but lost 3–2 to the Minnesota Lynx. In 2016 she had a reduced role, playing 24 games off the bench, and the Fever were eliminated in the first playoff round by the Phoenix Mercury. During the 2017 season she played a full 34 games for the first time, starting 17 and averaging 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds, though the Fever finished 9–25.

In 2018 she became a full-time starter, playing all 34 games and posting career highs in scoring and rebounding, but the Fever went 6–28. She re-signed as a restricted free agent in 2019, playing 30 games with 18 starts as the Fever went 13–21. The 2020 season was shortened to 22 games in a bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Achonwa played 18 games with 11 starts, and the Fever missed the playoffs with a 6–16 record. On January 28, 2021, she signed a multi-year deal with the Minnesota Lynx in free agency.

International career

Natalie Achonwa was just 16 years old when she debuted for Canada’s national team in 2009, making her the youngest player ever to do so. She went on to represent her country at the 2012 Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship. At the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico, she averaged 7.5 points per game and helped Canada earn a silver medal after falling 79–71 to Cuba in the final. An injury kept her out of the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

She returned for the 2016 Olympics, her second Games, and also played in the 2018 FIBA World Cup. Achonwa was selected for the 2020 Olympics and made her fourth and final Olympic appearance in Paris in 2024, the most by any Canadian basketball player. Over her career, she appeared in 79 games for Canada, the second-highest total in team history. At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada opened with a 101–38 win over Venezuela, followed by victories over Argentina and Cuba to top their group.

In the gold-medal game against the United States, a sold-out crowd cheered Canada on. The team trailed early but tied at halftime, then outscored the U.S. 26–15 in the third quarter to win 81–73, securing Canada’s first Pan Am basketball gold. Achonwa contributed 13 points and two rebounds.

Did You Know?

• She tore her ACL with about five minutes left in Notre Dame's 19-point victory over Baylor on March 31, 2014.
• While rehabbing her knee in fall 2014, she worked as interim Director of Operations for Notre Dame's women's basketball program, filling in for Katie Schwab who was hospitalized with a life-threatening illness.
• Achonwa made four Olympic appearances (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), the most by any Canadian basketball player.
• She played 79 career games for Canada's national squad, the second-most in team history.