Natalie Achonwa

A product of basketball hotbed Toronto, ON, Natalie Achonwa has been one of Canada’s most successful and celebrated athletes over the last decade. Primary to her athletic accolades, Nat is a mother who embraces the unique tempo that having children as a pro athlete presents.

She is a trendsetter and a trailblazer who made history in 2009 when she became the youngest player ever selected to a Canadian Senior National Team at age 16. She became the first international player to ever play for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, and later was a top 10 pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft. The 8-year WNBA vet and power forward for the Minnesota Lynx has also competed on the international stage with Team Canada in three World Cup Tournaments and three Olympic Games.

Off the court, Nat loves to invest time in her family, two dogs, and cheffing it up in the kitchen. She is known for her quick wit, kindness, and comedic flare. Nat is a leader and outspoken ally in her community who enjoys giving back through coaching, teaching, and hosting youth basketball camps. She leads a life of advocacy, dedicating her time to equality, Black Lives, and the holistic advancement of women in sport and society. Having served two terms on the Executive Committee with the WNBPA, Nat is an activist for change and has been an outstanding voice in the work against racial injustices, oppression, and stigma surrounding mental health. In September 2024, she was named the assistant coach for player development for the University of Michigan women’s basketball team.