As Duke women head into NCAA Tournament, star freshman wants to help add more wins

The Duke women’s basketball coaching staff called Toby Fournier into the office after the regular season was over and wanted to talk to her. She had no idea what they wanted to discuss.

Several leagues had already released their All-Conference awards at that point — the ACC hadn’t — but that didn’t cross her mind.

“I thought I was in trouble, but turns out I wasn’t,” Fournier said at the ACC Tournament.

Fournier was notified she earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors. She immediately FaceTimed her family and was met with cheers and laughs. It was a “whole thing,” she said.

Duke coach Kara Lawson repeatedly said she believed Fournier, the 6-foot-2 forward, was the best freshman in the ACC. So did the voters.

Fournier was the only freshman in the country averaging 14 points, a 55% shooting efficiency, five rebounds and one block per game. The freshman recorded double-digit scoring in 20 games, including a pair of double-doubles, and nine 20-point games — seven took place during conference play. Fournier scored a career-high 28 points to help the Blue Devils defeat Florida State on the final day of the regular season.

Her season, however, hasn’t been marked by perfection in every game. She’s consistently improved on both ends of the floor, Lawson said, and that’s what makes Fournier a special player.

“It’s been a progression. Obviously I get to see her every day. You guys see her twice a week,” Lawson said last month. “Every day, she picks something up or refines something, maybe does it a little bit better. I feel like a broken record. She’s remarkably productive.

“It’s unique how she’s able to finish, how she’s able to impact the game with her athleticism on both ends. She’s trending upward. She’s figuring things out. At the start of the year, there were more ups and downs. She still has them, as any player does, but she’s more consistent with her performances night in and night out. That’s what you’d hope for.”

Her numbers dropped slightly in the ACC Tournament, when she recorded 21 points over three games, but the rookie still added 16 rebounds, three steals, three assists and one block.

Still, she embraced the tough challenge of helping Duke defeat Louisville, Notre Dame and N.C. State en route to the Blue Devils’ first ACC Championship since 2013. When she wasn’t adding to her stat line, Fournier was on the bench supporting her teammates and disrupting the opponent’s efforts on offense and defense.

“I love it. I mean, I’m a competitor,” Fournier said. “I’ve always been a competitor, whether that’s in the backyard of my brother or on the court today. I really like it. I love that people watch it. I love being on a bright stage. I’m excited to continue, but it’s really exciting to have so many people watching, and then be able to play alongside my teammates.”

Duke is set to host the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and Fournier will be a big piece in what the team hopes to be a magical run.

Last season, it upset host school Ohio State to advance to the Sweet 16. The Blue Devils roster features several players who participated in that run, including Ashlon Jackson. Duke is proud to have Fournier as part of the team this postseason and proud of the improvements she continues to make.

“She’s killing it,” Jackson said. “Honestly, every day — within us practicing — you could see her growth. I’m just very, very proud of her. Seeing that growth over time, she’s going to be unbelievable.”

Get to know the ACC Rookie of the Year. Some answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Is there a teammate Fournier looks up to the most?

Fournier said every teammate has helped her in some way navigate being a freshman in college and new player.

“I think I’ve looked up to every single one,” Fournier said. “Each and every one of us have had our moments. I can’t pick one person.”

Oluchi Okananwa has provided special insight into being an effective bench player as a first-year student-athlete. Okananwa won the 2024 ACC Sixth Player of the Year award as a freshman and helped Duke advance to the Sweet 16.

“I never necessarily thought that I was going to need those experiences to help someone else go through a similar time,” Okananwa said. “It’s great that I’m able to be there for her and guide her. But she’s awesome. She’s already got it.”

On being close, but not too close, with her family

Fournier is from Toronto, Ontario. A direct flight from Canada to Raleigh is only about two hours long. The freshman said that distance is nice, because she’s developing a deeper sense of independence while knowing her family can get to her quickly if an emergency arises.

There are many reasons why Fournier chose to attend Duke, and that played into her decision.

“My mom used to call me every night. I love her so much I can’t always pick up because I’m doing things. So I think that, you know, I’ve been independent, they’ve also given me my space … but at the same time, it’s not where I’m not close to them. I still feel close. I have the best of both worlds.

The support Fournier gets from her parents

Fournier said her father, Craig, is the most passionate about her game, while her mom, Anais Granofsky, gets more anxious. The freshman described her mother as “around the corner watching” and worrying about injuries. Both parents attended the ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

Fournier said her mom regularly checks in and joked about being tracked through her phone.

“I know a lot of moms do. I’m surprised she doesn’t. She might have a tracker in me. I don’t really know,” Fournier said with a smile. “She likes to text me good morning every morning. So she’s very supportive.

What it’s like to play for Duke, with her teammates

“I love these girls so much. There’s nobody else that I would rather do it with,” Fournier said after winning the ACC championship. “It feels amazing. And we knew that we could do it. We knew that we, you know, that was the end goal at the end of the day, we knew that we could come and get that win.

“I love the girls. I love this team. I knew that we had so much potential when I came around my visit. I knew that this was gonna be the goal eventually, and I’m here so soon, even as a freshman. It’s just crazy.”

Kara Lawson on what stands out about Fournier

“I think what impresses me about Toby is she has the ability to rise to the level of the game and of the matchup. She makes plays for us. She’s been incredibly productive for us this season and very efficient as well. She finishes. Her rebounding has ticked up as of late, which we’ve really needed. think her ability to kind of meet the level of the game and the level of the opponent is a great quality to have in a freshman.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher

The News & Observer