Elizabeth Balogun

Background

Balogun moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Tennessee in the eighth grade, transferring to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy. There, she averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 2.1 assists, earning a spot on the ALL-USA Girls Basketball First Team by the end of high school. She began her college career at Georgia Tech in 2018, and after a standout freshman season—averaging 14.64 points per game—she was named the 2018–19 Freshman of the Year.

Balogun then left for Louisville, where in her sophomore year she was named preseason All-ACC by both Coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel and made the Citizen Naismith Watch List. She later transferred to Duke in 2021. Internationally, Balogun was called up to represent D'Tigress for the 2019 pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in Mozambique, but Louisville did not release her. She also received a call-up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Belgrade.

At the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, she averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Off the court, Balogun is the second of three children. Her older brother, Ezekiel, played at The Citadel in South Carolina, and her younger sister, Ruth, played at Hamilton Heights and now plays at the University of Central Arkansas. Her mother, Justina, died of breast cancer before Balogun moved to America, while her father, Mark, remains in Nigeria, working as a basketball coach and policeman.