Florida Atlantic University announced on Mar. 25 that women’s basketball players Grace Carstensen and Vivian Onugha have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
This recognition marks the first time both Carstensen and Onugha have received this academic honor. The award highlights student-athletes who excel both on the court and in their academic pursuits.
Carstensen, a junior guard from Hinsdale, Illinois, is majoring in finance with a grade point average of 3.91. She played in every game for Florida Atlantic during the season, making 20 starts. Carstensen led her team in three-point field goal percentage at .416, which ranked second in the American Conference. She also led in made three-point field goals (69) and three-pointers per game (2.2), both ranking fifth in the league overall. Throughout the season, she scored double figures eleven times, recorded a career-best 19 points against Florida Memorial on Nov. 4, and achieved other personal bests including steals and rebounds.
Onugha, a junior forward from Lagos, Nigeria majoring in health science with a GPA of 3.53, was also recognized for her contributions throughout all 32 games of the season where she started 29 times. She led Florida Atlantic in several statistical categories: total points (299), rebounds (195), rebounds per game (6.1), field goal percentage (.516), field goals made (114), free throws made (71), while finishing second on her team for points per game at an average of 9.3. Onugha posted three double-doubles during the year and reached double figures thirteen times—both team-leading marks—and earned two American Weekly Honorable Mention awards during November and January.
Both athletes’ performances reflect their commitment to balancing academics with athletics as part of Florida Atlantic’s women’s basketball program.
