Joyce Ekworomadu (2020) - Hall of Honor

Hall of Honor

Joyce Ekworomadu

Class
Induction

2020
Sport(s)

Women's Basketball

Joyce Ekworomadu was a four-year letter winner for the women’s basketball team from 2004-2008. A guard, she led the Bobcats to a 2007-2008 Southland Conference Regular Season Championship and the program’s first ever post-season victory while being voted unanimously as the 2008 Southland Conference Player of the Year.

Ekworomadu is currently 8^th all-time on the Bobcats’ career scoring list with 1,573 points, and is one of only 18 players to score over 1,000 points in their career. She is 6^th all-time in career three-pointers made with 154, and she is 4^th in career free-throws made with 347. She is also one of just five players in Texas State history to record 1,500 career points and 600 career rebounds. She is 4^th on the single season scoring list with 597 points. She is 3^rd in school history in three-pointers made in a single season with 82, and she is both 6^th and 8^th in free-throws made in a single season with 112 and 113.

Gallery: (2-27-2021) Joyce Ekworomadu Hall of Honor

During her sophomore season and under the direction of Head Coach Suzanne Fox, the Bobcats finished the 2005-2006 season with a record of 17-11 and Ekworomadu led her team in steals, was voted team MVP and was named second team All-Southland Conference. She continued to develop as a leader for the program, and during her junior season helped lead the Bobcats to an 18-12 record. That season she led the Bobcats in scoring at 13.9 points per game, led the team in three-point percentage, and was again voted both team MVP and named 2nd team All-Southland Conference. Her senior season was the best of her career in what was one of the best season in team history as the Bobcats finished the season 21-11 and 14-2 in conference play, winning the SLC Regular Season Championship. Ekworomadu dominated in league play: the team captain led the Bobcats in scoring with an average of 18.7 points per game and was named Southland Conference Player of the Year, 1st team All-Southland Conference and Team MVP. The Bobcats finished the year with a victory in the first round of the WNIT in a 84-83 thriller over Prairie View A&M. The win was the first post season win in the history of Texas State Women’s Basketball.

After her senior season, the accolades continued to roll in for Ekworomadu. She was named as the 2008 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year. She was the 2008 recipient of the Dr. Jean Smith Outstanding Female Athlete Scholarship Award, given to the top female athlete at Texas State. She was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI 2nd team. She was also named to the 1st team Capital One All-Academic Team. Ekworomadu was named to the dean’s list three times and was a member of the Southland Conference All- Academic Team all four years of her career. In 2013 she was named to the Southland Conference 2000 ‘s All-Decade Team.

Ekworomadu graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. After graduating, she signed a contract to play for the San Antonio Silver Stars, becoming the first player in team and Southland Conference history to sign a WNBA contract. Her professional basketball career included stops in Europe where she played in Poland for and in Italy where she played for Vomero Napoli in Naples. She was a member of the Nigerian National Team from 2007-2018, leading Nigeria to a 2^nd place finish in the 2008 All-Africa Cup Olympic Qualifier where she was named to the All-Tournament team. In 2016, she led Nigeria in the Olympic qualifiers with 14 points in an upset win over South Korea, a team that was ranked 12^th in the world. In 2013 she became just the 12^th female to be a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Ekworomadu has traveled to over 40 countries playing the game of basketball which has also led her to appearances on Showtime, The Queen Latifah Show, The Jimmy Fallon Show, Nickelodeon, Disney XD and ESPN.

Ekworomadu is currently the CEO/Director of BallFX where she is committed to inspiring people’s desire for personal development through “dedication, determination and discipline”. She is also a motivational speaker having spoken to over 50,000 kids through the WNBA Dallas Wings to push the Anti-Bullying Campaign “ABCs of Bullying Prevention” in collaboration with the NCSV (National Campaign to Stop Violence). She speaks about topics including diversity, leadership, women empowerment, and bullying prevention. She has also done a variety of volunteer work aiding the homeless population in the Dallas area and coaching underprivileged kids in collaboration with the Grand Prairie Police Department.

In 2017 Ekworomadu also completed her master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She currently resides in Dallas, TX.

Explore HOF Explore Hall of Honor Members