MIES (Switzerland) - The 2024-25 NCAA season has been underway and there's an ever-increasing number of international players competing in the NCAA and having an impact, having already starred in FIBA national team tournaments.
We've reviewed the NCAA rosters and have picked out a selection of ballers in the College Game who have already put their talents on display in FIBA competitions.
This is the second installment of the 30-player series, following an alphabetical order. The full resume and profile of each player is click-able, with their highlights included below.
Angela Dugalic (SRB) - UCLA
Paris 2024 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament 1st place - FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Brazil 2024 FIBA Women's EuroBasket Qualifiers 2023 Tokyo 2020 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament 1st place - FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021
An anomaly amongst the 30-strong list of NCAA ballers being featured, Dugalic never played at a FIBA youth event and skipped straight to senior action. And, what an introduction it was when she won the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 while still a teenager. On top of that, she is now playing in the College game as a double-Olympian!
The forward has had an eventful NCAA career, starting with Oregon and then missing the entire 2022-23 season. She is now in her second year with UCLA and recently showed her teeth with a massive double-double of 18 points and 15 boards against Arkansas.
Anaelle Dutat (FRA) - University of Rhode Island
FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 (Best Defensive Player) 3rd place - FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2022
The French forward already had a bronze medal from U18 Continental action when she stepped out at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 in Madrid. While her nation only just came up short in grabbing another bronze with a fourth-placed finish, Dutat was able to celebrate gaining individual recognition at the prestigious tournament.
She was awarded the honor of being 'Best Defensive Player' which was a huge accomplishment considering the level of talent on view. Her intensity, brilliant rebounding prowess and all-around defensive IQ stood out. Now she is showing this at Rhode Island where she will be looking to post a potential double-double season in her Junior year.
Joyce Edwards (USA) - South Carolina
1st place - FIBA U18 Women's Americup 2024 (MVP) 1st place - FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 (All-Star Five)
A five-star recruit and already a standout on the FIBA youth scene, Edwards is tipped to be on her way to the very top of the sport on her current trajectory. In her first FIBA outing, she won gold at the FIBA U19 Worlds in Spain and despite being the youngest member of the roster, she excelled and made the All-Star Five lineup. This past year she then went one better and was crowned MVP at the FIBA U18 Women's Americup in Colombia.
She also led USA with 25 points at the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit and netted the same tally at the Jordan Brand Classic where she was MVP. Learning from the legendary Dawn Staley at South Carolina, Edwards is only going to grow in influence. She could be named Freshman of the Year and is also going to be a force in the Gamecocks' bid to win it all.
Yvonne Ejim (CAN) - Gonzaga
Paris 2024 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Hungary 2024 3rd place - FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2023 2nd place - FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup 2017
An Olympian after featuring at Paris 2024 and also a medal winner at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2023, Ejim is a baller who was heavily influenced and shaped by her experiences at FIBA youth level. She played at three global events - featuring once at the U17 Worlds and then at two editions of the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup.
The powerhouse has been huge for Gonzaga and averaged almost 20 points per game last year and racked up 15 double-doubles. She has won a stack of honors and accolades for her play, including the 2024 Becky Hammon Player of the Year, WCC Player of the Year and WCC Defensive Player of the Year.
Faith Ehi Etute (LUX) - University of Oregon
FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers 2nd Place - FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket Division B 2023 (MVP) FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket Division B 2022 (All-Star Five)
An absolute beast for Luxembourg at youth level and in the last couple of years at the senior level as well, she has also shown her power, poise and skills playing against pro ballers in EuroCup Women. A double-double machine, she made the All-Star Five at the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket in 2022 and was MVP in 2023.
Signing for Oregon Ducks, her Freshman year should see her making a seamless transition and probably bringing back memories of Nyara Sabally with the fans. It's been a low key start so far, but watch Etute getting stronger and stronger.
Toby Fournier (CAN) - Duke
3rd place - FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 (All-Star Five)
Already on the wider mainstream women's basketball radar after she threw down a dunk at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in what was her debut for her country, she is even more well known now. That's because she helped Canada win bronze at the FIBA U19 Worlds with exceptional displays that won her All-Star Five honors.
Averaging 16.1 points and a tournament-best 13.7 rebounds per contest, the length of Fournier is a big asset and she will rack up double-doubles for Duke in her Freshman year. She has already dropped a 25-point piece against Belmont and that came in just 24 minutes of court time.
Azzi Fudd (USA) - UConn
1st place - FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021 1st place - FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 1st place - FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup 2017
The guard is one of the most highly-rated young ballers in the USA having been ranked ESPN's number one in the Class of 2021. She is a triple gold medal winner for her country, lifting titles at both the U17 and U19 Worlds. While those tournaments didn't necessarily see Fudd in her highest gear, the minutes she was handed speaks volumes.
A season-ending injury was a big blow last year when she only stepped out for a couple of games. Now back on the UConn roster after red-shirting due to her ACL setback, she is ready to impress once again. She is such a great watch because of the way she plays and will be a key baller in her team's silverware challenge this season - although has recently suffered another injury scare.
Yarden Garzon (ISR) - Indiana
FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers 3rd place - FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket 2022 (All-Star Five)
The forward has already had the joy and pride of stepping out at a prestigious senior event for her country when she appeared for co-hosts Israel at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023. While the competition didn't go to plan for the team, she enhanced her reputation from the youth level which had seen her put up some massive numbers.
Her college career has seen Garzon win acclaim for her displays with the Hoosiers, making the All-Big Ten Second Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team. She then started in all 32 games last season in her Sophomore Year.
Delaney Gibb (CAN) - Brigham Young University
3rd place - FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 2nd place - FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup 2021
Having previously gained silver in her first outing for Canada when she appeared at the FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup, the guard then appeared at the FIBA U17 Worlds. She then completed a double by taking to the court at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, winning bronze. That was in part due to her contribution, which included a dagger triple in the memorable classic Third Place Game against France.
Now in her Freshman year with Brigham Young University, she has shown that scoring touch in a big way during the first part of her College Career. She dropped three scores of 20 plus in her first seven games and has impressed.
Hannah Hidalgo (USA) - Notre Dame
1st place - FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 (All-Star Five) 1st place - FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022
An exceptional talent, the playmaker has won golds with USA at the U17 Worlds and U19 Worlds - making the All-Star Five at the latter and breaking the USA team single-game records in assists with 13 and steals with 8. She was then named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year and became only the second teenager to ever do so.
Her 31-point NCAA debut was the highest-scoring by a Notre Dame player this century. She then matched the record for steals, racked up a triple-double and surpassed Skylar Diggins for the most steals in a season in program history. She also earned first-team All-ACC honors, was ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Her Sophomore season will only see her impress even more.
The third and final part in the series will be published soon.
FIBA