Fortuna Ngnawo fuels Troy's strong start, earns Player of the Week award

Forward powers Trojans to best start in program history with big wins over Toledo, MVSU and Chattanooga with 17.3 points per game in first week

Fortuna Ngnawo led the Troy women’s basketball team to a 3-1 start to begin the 2025-26 season. Ngnawo has scored double digits in each of the team’s first four games, earning her the Sun Belt’s inaugural Player of the Week. 

Through three games, she’s leading the team in points per game (17.3) while shooting 57 percent from the field with 5.3 rebounds a game. The Cameroon native also led the team in total blocks with eight, while being second on the team in steals with seven and rebounds with 16. 

"Having a Trojan earn Sun Belt Player of the Week in the very first week of the season is a great way to start the year," head coach Chanda Rigby  said.  

Ngnawo set the tone for the season with a 17 point, six rebound, four block outing against the Toledo Rockets in the MAC-SBC Challenge – her four blocks set a new career high. She followed that performance up by dropping 22 points while matching her career high with four blocks against Mississippi Valley State – she made her first career three-pointer in the third quarter and second in the fourth.  

Against Chattanooga, Ngnawo secured her third straight double-digit scoring performance. The senior finished the day with 13 points on 50 percent from the field. 

"Fortuna improved her game so much in the offseason, and I'm so happy her hard work and talent are being recognized," Rigby said. 

Against Kansas State, Ngnawo pushed her double-digit scoring to four games – the senior had a 10-point, nine rebound outing in the Trojan’s first road game of the season. The forward had a big night on the defensive end as well, with six defensive rebounds and a team leading three steals.  

“No matter who you go into a game with and play with, Fortuna has a side of her game where she can contribute any time and every night, she always finds a way to do it,” Rigby said. “Tonight, it was with those steals, tonight was with her strength -- I’m really proud of her and glad she’s in a Trojan Uniform.” 

After facing Kansas State, Ngnawo and the Trojans are off to Missouri for early midweek action. The Trojans are looking to notch the first win in school history over the Tigers. The matchup is set for Thursday, Nov. 20, with tipoff set for 11:30 a.m.