Natalie Achonwa

Natalie Chioma Achonwa (born November 22, 1992) is a Canadian former professional basketball player and coach, currently an assistant coach for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Early life Achonwa was born in Toronto, Ontario. She attended Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, Ontario in ninth grade, before moving to Hamilton, Ontario to play with Canada Basketball's NEDA program at St. Mary Catholic. In the fall of 2014, while continuing her rehab, Achonwa took a job as the interim Director of Operations for the Notre Dame women's basketball program. She was filling in for the incumbent Katie Schwab, who was hospitalized with a life-threatening illness.

Achonwa did not sign her rookie contract with the Fever until February 2015, once she recovered from her injury. She returned to the court in time for the 2015 WNBA season. She was a backup center on the Fever roster in her rookie season, averaging eight ppg and 3.5 rpg in 28 games with 17 starts. The Fever finished third place in the East with a 20–14 record. By the end of the season, Achonwa was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. Led by their two all-stars Tamika Catchings and Marissa Coleman, the Fever advanced to the Finals facing off against the Minnesota Lynx but lost the series 3–2.

In the 2016 WNBA season, Achonwa had a reduced role on the Fever's roster playing 24 games while coming off the bench with limited minutes. The Fever made it to the playoffs again but was eliminated in the first-round elimination game by the Phoenix Mercury.

During the 2017 season, Achonwa played a full 34 games for the first time in her career while starting in 17 of those games, averaging 7.1 ppg and 3.7 rpg. However, the Fever finished as the second-worst team in the league with a 9–25 record.

In the 2018 season, Achonwa became a full-time starter for the Fever and played all 34 games, averaging career-highs in scoring and rebound with her new role, but the Fever would continue their losing ways, finishing 6–28 as the worst team in the league.

In 2019, Achonwa re-signed with the Fever as a restricted free agent. She played 30 games and would start in 18 of the games played during the season. The Fever had an improved season but fell short of making the playoffs with a 13–21 record.

In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Achonwa played 18 games and started in 11, but the Fever would again miss out on the playoffs with a 6–16 record, finishing as the second-worst team in the league.

Minnesota Lynx (2021–2023) On January 28, 2021, Achonwa signed a multi-year deal with the Minnesota Lynx in free agency.

Overseas In the 2015–16 off-season, Achonwa played in Italy for Dike Napoli. In November 2016, Achonwa signed with Bucheon KEB Hana Bank, a South Korean club, for the 2016–17 off-season. In 2017, Achonwa signed with Asan Woori Bank Wibee of the South Korean league for the 2017–18 WNBA off-season. In 2018, Achonwa signed with Jiangsu Phoenix of the Chinese league for the 2018–19 WNBA off-season. In 2019, Achonwa signed with Tango Bourges Basket of the French league for the 2019–20 WNBA off-season. In 2020, Achonwa signed with Famila Schio of the Italian league for the 2020–21 WNBA off-season.

International career At age 16, Achonwa became the youngest player to ever play on the Canadian national team in 2009. She competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.

Achonwa was invited to join the national team, to play in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women, held in Xalapa, Mexico from September 21–28, 2013. She averaged 7.5 points per game and helped the Canadian National team to a second place, silver medal finish. Canada faced Cuba in a preliminary round and won 53–40, but in the championship game, Cuba prevailed 79–71.

She played for Canada at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

Achonwa was invited to play for Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

She made her fourth and final Olympic appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the most by a Canadian basketball player. In total she played in 79 career games for Canada's national squad, the second-most in team history, joining the team when she was 16.

Pan Am games 2015 Achonwa was a member of the Canada women's national basketball team, which participated in basketball at the 2015 Pan American Games held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada July 10 to 26, 2015. Canada opened the preliminary rounds with an easy 101–38 win over Venezuela. The following day they beat Argentina 73–58. The final preliminary game was against Cuba; both teams were 2–0, so the winner would win the group. The game went down to the wire, with Canada eking out a 71–68 win.

WNBA career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Personal life Achonwa's father immigrated from Nigeria to Canada when he was twelve. She is tall.