Duke sophomore Toby Fournier can dunk, but is looking to soar even higher

So what stands out about Duke’s Toby Fournier, in the words of her opponents? You could point to her athleticism, her long arms, her ability to finish around the rim or run the ball in transition.

But fellow returning All-ACC player Kymora Johnson summed it up in three words: “She can dunk.”

Fournier, now a sophomore forward for Kara Lawson’s Blue Devils, first gained online notoriety as a 14-year-old dunking phenom in Toronto. In her first year with the Blue Devils, her slams became a staple of pregame warmups — but her impact reached far beyond the these viral-worthy moments. Fournier was one of just two freshmen nationally to lead an AP top-15 team in scoring last year, averaging 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks off the bench while shooting 52 percent from the field.

Her performances not only propelled her to 2025 ACC Rookie of the Year honors, but also set a new foundation for what to expect in year two. And with 11 of 15 players on last year’s conference first team gone by way of graduation or the portal, Fournier’s star is rising at an ideal time for Duke, Triangle women’s hoops and, most of all, the ACC.

“It’s a different standard this year, because I’m a sophomore, I’m not a freshman,” Fournier said Monday at ACC Tipoff in Charlotte. “I’m not new to the ACC, but I think that I’ve been preparing myself.”

There’s plenty of proof in the hardware already. Besides Rookie of the Year and All-ACC First Team, Fournier was a six-time ACC Rookie of the Week, and three-time USBWA National Freshman of the Week. Her resume also includes a spot on the 2025 Birmingham 2 Region All-Tournament Team, where the Blue Devils’ season ended in the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals. She appeared in all 36 games her freshman year — not just as a contributor, but as Duke’s leading scorer, top field goal and three-point shooter, and shot-blocking presence.

Consistency is key

What more could Fournier do for the Blue Devils this year? Lawson pointed to her consistency.

“The start of the year was really rocky,” Lawson said. “I mean, it was extreme highs and low lows in terms of production for her, specifically against the tougher opponents in the early going. And then the second half of the year, she showed that she could play in any type of game.

So I’m looking for that from the beginning, the consistency of performance and the ability to be able to do that in longer stretches.”

Fournier said she feels ready for the moment. As a freshman, she admitted she faced a steep learning curve. There “was so much going on” at times that Fournier said she didn’t know what she was doing or “what key points to focus on.”

But now?

“I know what I need to develop, I know my growth areas,” Fournier said. “I also know what I can do on the court based on freshman year... you can’t carry anything over, but based on last year, I feel like it’s easier to understand what my goals are for this year.”

Playmaking, learning new schemes and confidence sit at the top of that list. And Fournier, who starred as Duke’s sixth player last year, should have more opportunities to show that off in Lawson’s system this year.

Duke favors versatility

Lawson shared Monday Duke will likely feature a bigger, more versatile frontcourt this season — especially with players like redshirt freshman Arianna Roberson in the mix.

“We’ll look a little different at the rim in terms of rim protection,” Lawson said. “I think we’ll probably play more double forward lineups this year... because we have a lot of talented forwards [and] want to try to get them on the floor in combination as much as possible.”

Lawson’s hoping this will further bolster her teams’ renowned defensive approach and make it “really hard to get quality shots off against us.”

Ask any opponents who went up against Fournier last year, and they’ll tell you it’s already been tricky.

“You have to second guess going in the paint,” UNC guard Indya Nivar said. “Or make sure you make another move to get past her. She’s pretty skilled.”

And she’s only getting better. With newfound confidence and another year in Duke’s system, Fournier is poised to expand her already vast skillset. Still, there’s another thing Fournier’s looking forward to this year, if she can make it happen: a dunk or two.

“I think that for sure this year I’m gonna try to get a few in and see what happens,” Fournier said. “I think it’d be really cool and just to draw that kind of attention to the women’s game as well.”

With one season behind her and no shortage of confidence, Fournier seems set to soar — and maybe dunk — even higher in her sophomore year.

This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 5:30 AM.