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Lawson, Fournier Named to Naismith Awards Semifinalist Lists
3/19/2026 6:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ROSWELL, Ga. – The postseason awards continue to come in for Duke women's basketball as head coach Kara Lawson and sophomore Toby Fournier picked up a pair of accolades from the Atlanta Tipoff Club Thursday afternoon.
Lawson was named a 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalist, while Fournier was picked as a 2026 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MO LECULE Semifinalist.
The 2026 ACC Coach of the Year, Lawson has pushed Duke women's basketball back into the upper echelon of the sport during her six seasons in Durham. One year after helping guide Duke to its first ACC Tournament title in 12 seasons, Lawson and the Blue Devils pulled off the double by winning both the ACC regular season and tournament titles.
Duke, ranked eighth in the latest Associated Press poll, turned in one of the most thrilling win streaks in college basketball this season, winning 17 straight after starting the year with a 3-6 record. Included in the streak were three wins over AP top 25 teams. It was the fourth longest active streak among Division I programs and spanned Dec. 5-Feb. 21.
The Blue Devils finished ACC regular season play with a 16-2 record, suffering losses to North Carolina and Clemson. The 16 league wins are the most in Lawson's tenure and rank second in program history. Heading into the ACC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, Duke upended Notre Dame in the semifinals and rallied from four points down in the final minute to beat Louisville in overtime. All five of Duke's starters were named to the ACC All-Tournament Teams. Sporting a 121-49 overall record, Lawson became the second fastest ACC women's basketball coach to 100 career wins earlier this season, reaching the benchmark in 143 games.
Recently named to the AP All-America third team, Fournier leads the Blue Devils on both ends of the court, averaging 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. She has scored in double figures in 29 of her 32 games this season and owns nine double-doubles. Duke's first All-America pick since 2018, Fournier garnered ACC All-Tournament Team recognition after helping the Blue Devils capture their second consecutive ACC Tournament title. She averaged 12.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.67 blocks and 2.33 steals and 2.0 assists per game in ACC Tournament action.
In conference play, Fournier averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. A force inside the paint, Fournier increased her blocks total this season by 69 percent with 74 denials in her 32 outings. She ranks second in the ACC and 10th nationally in blocks per game, while her 74 blocks rank ninth in Duke single-season history.
The Toronto, Ontario native has 1,015 career points, reaching the 1,000th point benchmark in just 66 career games. Only three Blue Devils have hit the mark faster. Fournier is just 52 rebounds away from 500 caroms in her career and has already surpassed 100 blocks with 113 in her 67 career outings.
The Blue Devils earned the No. 3 seed in the Sacramento Region and will host Charleston in NCAA Tournament First Round play March 20 at 11:30 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB".
#GoDuke
Lawson was named a 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalist, while Fournier was picked as a 2026 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MO LECULE Semifinalist.
The 2026 ACC Coach of the Year, Lawson has pushed Duke women's basketball back into the upper echelon of the sport during her six seasons in Durham. One year after helping guide Duke to its first ACC Tournament title in 12 seasons, Lawson and the Blue Devils pulled off the double by winning both the ACC regular season and tournament titles.
Duke, ranked eighth in the latest Associated Press poll, turned in one of the most thrilling win streaks in college basketball this season, winning 17 straight after starting the year with a 3-6 record. Included in the streak were three wins over AP top 25 teams. It was the fourth longest active streak among Division I programs and spanned Dec. 5-Feb. 21.
The Blue Devils finished ACC regular season play with a 16-2 record, suffering losses to North Carolina and Clemson. The 16 league wins are the most in Lawson's tenure and rank second in program history. Heading into the ACC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, Duke upended Notre Dame in the semifinals and rallied from four points down in the final minute to beat Louisville in overtime. All five of Duke's starters were named to the ACC All-Tournament Teams. Sporting a 121-49 overall record, Lawson became the second fastest ACC women's basketball coach to 100 career wins earlier this season, reaching the benchmark in 143 games.
Recently named to the AP All-America third team, Fournier leads the Blue Devils on both ends of the court, averaging 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. She has scored in double figures in 29 of her 32 games this season and owns nine double-doubles. Duke's first All-America pick since 2018, Fournier garnered ACC All-Tournament Team recognition after helping the Blue Devils capture their second consecutive ACC Tournament title. She averaged 12.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.67 blocks and 2.33 steals and 2.0 assists per game in ACC Tournament action.
In conference play, Fournier averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. A force inside the paint, Fournier increased her blocks total this season by 69 percent with 74 denials in her 32 outings. She ranks second in the ACC and 10th nationally in blocks per game, while her 74 blocks rank ninth in Duke single-season history.
The Toronto, Ontario native has 1,015 career points, reaching the 1,000th point benchmark in just 66 career games. Only three Blue Devils have hit the mark faster. Fournier is just 52 rebounds away from 500 caroms in her career and has already surpassed 100 blocks with 113 in her 67 career outings.
The Blue Devils earned the No. 3 seed in the Sacramento Region and will host Charleston in NCAA Tournament First Round play March 20 at 11:30 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
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
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