Stanford’s women’s basketball team is no stranger to making headlines, but sophomore forward Nunu Agara just made sure the spotlight won’t dim anytime soon. In a thrilling 94-88 loss to LSU—yes, thrilling losses are a thing—Agara decided she wasn’t going down quietly. She went full beast mode, dropping a jaw-dropping 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting. Oh, and she also snagged 13 rebounds because why not dominate the boards too?
Let’s talk records, shall we? Agara became the first Division I player since the 2002-03 season to rack up 29 points on 60% shooting with 13 rebounds on the road against a Top 5 team. You know you’re doing something right when you make history while your team is taking an L.
Enter: Nneka Ogwumike
WNBA star and Stanford alum Nneka Ogwumike chimed in on Instagram with a one-word comment: “TUH.” For those unfamiliar, “TUH” is a whole vibe—it’s the verbal equivalent of a mic drop, an eye roll, and a standing ovation all rolled into three letters. The former Cardinal legend couldn’t help but acknowledge the audacity of Agara’s performance, which clearly runs in the Nigerian bloodline.
Nunu Agara: Stanford’s Silent Assassin
Agara’s breakout season is anything but quiet. She’s putting up numbers like she’s trying to crash the WNBA draft party a little early. Averaging 18.8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game this season, she’s not just playing basketball; she’s auditioning for her highlight reel. And let’s not ignore her efficiency—56% from the field and 41.2% from downtown? That’s not a player; that’s a cheat code.
Her game against LSU wasn’t a fluke either. It came hot on the heels of a 22-point performance against UC San Diego where she treated defenders like cones in a layup drill. Someone get this woman a cape because she’s single-handedly keeping Stanford’s ACC hopes alive.
The Cardinal Conundrum
Stanford’s 7-2 record in the ACC is solid, but losses like this one sting. Going toe-to-toe with LSU and coming up short is like nailing the dance choreography but tripping on the last step. The Cardinal will need to tighten things up defensively if they want to avoid being “the team that almost beat LSU” for the rest of the season.
Agara’s development, though, is the silver lining Stanford desperately needed. She’s stepped into a starting role this season and has been an absolute revelation. Whether she’s posterizing defenders or drilling threes, Agara is proving she’s not just the future of Stanford basketball—she’s the now.
The Nigerian Connection
Agara and Ogwumike share more than just Cardinal pride—they’re part of a lineage of Nigerian basketball excellence. With Ogwumike wrapping up her 13th WNBA season in Seattle, averaging 16.7 points and earning her ninth All-Star nod, Agara has some big shoes to fill. Judging by her current trajectory, she’s well on her way to making her own mark.
So, what’s next for Agara and the Cardinal? They face the California Golden Bears on Friday, where Agara will look to add another chapter to her sophomore saga. Will she deliver another jaw-dropping performance? Probably. Will Nneka Ogwumike comment on it? You can bet your last free throw she will.
In the meantime, we’ll all just sit back and bask in the “TUH” energy—because when Agara’s on the court, anything less would be an insult.
