Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Florida State on February 26, 2026 at 8 p.m.
/
8 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Florida State
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Fournier Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team
2/26/2026 12:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Duke women's basketball sophomore Toby Fournier has been named to the 2026 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE Late-Season Team, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Thursday.
Fournier, also selected to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, leads the Blue Devils on both ends of the court, averaging 17.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Able to defend at a high level in the paint as well as on the perimeter, Fournier is a major reason the Blue Devils feature the league's third best overall scoring defense (58.7) and the nation's sixth best defense according to Her Hoop Stats. In league play, Duke ranks first in scoring defense (55.2) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (.253) and third in opponent field goal percentage (.467) and rebounding (40.7).
Fournier ranks second in the ACC and 16th nationally with 60 blocks – 21 more than she had in 35 games last season. She has 15 blocks against AP Top 25 teams this season, tying her for eighth nationally, and owns multiple blocks in 17 contests. Overall, against AP Top 25 foes, Fournier averages 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47 percent from the floor.
On the glass, the 6-2 forward is ninth in the ACC at 8.1 rebounds per game. She has pulled down at least five rebounds in 23 of the team's 27 games and collected a career-high 16 in the win at Belmont. She is sixth in rebounding in league contests, grabbing 8.7 per game in her 16 outings.
While she is one of the most fouled players in the ACC, drawing 115 calls this season, Fournier has committed two fewer fouls this season than in her rookie campaign despite increasing her minutes per game average by nine this year. She has 61 fouls in 788 minutes on the floor after finishing her first year with 63 in 706 minutes played.
The 12th-ranked Blue Devils close out their regular season home slate Thursday night against Florida State at 8 p.m., on ACC Network.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB".
#GoDuke
Fournier, also selected to the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, leads the Blue Devils on both ends of the court, averaging 17.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Able to defend at a high level in the paint as well as on the perimeter, Fournier is a major reason the Blue Devils feature the league's third best overall scoring defense (58.7) and the nation's sixth best defense according to Her Hoop Stats. In league play, Duke ranks first in scoring defense (55.2) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (.253) and third in opponent field goal percentage (.467) and rebounding (40.7).
Fournier ranks second in the ACC and 16th nationally with 60 blocks – 21 more than she had in 35 games last season. She has 15 blocks against AP Top 25 teams this season, tying her for eighth nationally, and owns multiple blocks in 17 contests. Overall, against AP Top 25 foes, Fournier averages 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47 percent from the floor.
On the glass, the 6-2 forward is ninth in the ACC at 8.1 rebounds per game. She has pulled down at least five rebounds in 23 of the team's 27 games and collected a career-high 16 in the win at Belmont. She is sixth in rebounding in league contests, grabbing 8.7 per game in her 16 outings.
While she is one of the most fouled players in the ACC, drawing 115 calls this season, Fournier has committed two fewer fouls this season than in her rookie campaign despite increasing her minutes per game average by nine this year. She has 61 fouls in 788 minutes on the floor after finishing her first year with 63 in 706 minutes played.
The 12th-ranked Blue Devils close out their regular season home slate Thursday night against Florida State at 8 p.m., on ACC Network.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballKara Lawson on Bella Flemings
Monday, November 17
Kara Lawson on Taylor Sofilkanich
Sunday, November 16
Kara Lawson on Sanai Green
Thursday, November 13
Kara Lawson on Autumn Fleary
Wednesday, November 12
