No. 5 – Atlanta Dream | |
---|---|
Position | Guard / Forward |
League | WNBA Liga Femenina |
Personal information | |
Born | Lagos, Nigeria | September 9, 2000
Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Career information | |
High school | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
College | Georgia Tech (2018–2019) Louisville (2019–2021) Duke (2021–present) |
Playing career | 2023–present |
Career history | |
2023-present | Bembibre |
2024–present | Atlanta Dream |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Medals |
Elizabeth Balogun (born 9 September 2000) is a Nigerian professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[1] She played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils[2] and the Nigerian national team.[3] She plays for the Spanish Liga Femenina de Baloncesto side CB Bembire. [4][5]
Balogun transferred to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Tennessee, in the eighth grade from Lagos, Nigeria.[6][7] She averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 2.1 assists.[8] She made the ALL-USA Girls Basketball First Team at the end of high school.[9]
Balogun started as a freshman at Georgia Tech in 2018.[10][11] She left the team for Louisville after being named the 2018–19 Freshman of the Year, having averaged 14.64 points per game in her freshman season.[12] In her sophomore year at Louisville, she was named preseason All-ACC by Coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel and also made the Citizen Naismith Watch List.[12] Balogun later transferred to Duke in 2021.[13]
Balogun was called up to represent the D'Tigress and participate in the 2019 pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in Mozambique, but she was not released by Louisville.[14][15] She was also called up to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Belgrade.[16][17][18] She also participated in the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments where she averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.[19]
Balogun is the second of 3 children. Her older brother, Ezekiel, played at The Citadel in South Carolina. Her younger sister, Ruth, played at Hamilton Heights and currently plays at the University of Central Arkansas.[20] Her mom, Justina, died of breast cancer before Balogun moved to America, while her dad, Mark, resides in Nigeria, where he is a basketball coach and policeman.[21][8]