Nazahrah Ansaria Hillmon Bio
Nazahrah Ansaria Hillmon is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Laces of Unrivaled. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and playing as a power forward, Hillmon has built a reputation as one of the most productive rebounders and interior scorers of her generation. She played college basketball at the University of Michigan, where she finished as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds, double-doubles, and free throws made. Internationally, she has represented the United States and earned multiple gold medals with the national program.
Early Life and Background
Hillmon was born on April 5, 2000, in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Gilmour Academy in nearby Gates Mills, Ohio, where she played four varsity seasons of basketball. She started in all 116 career games and amassed 2,057 points and 1,607 rebounds, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. As a senior, she averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game, leading the Lancers to their first OHSAA Division III state championship after back-to-back district and regional titles.
Following that final high school season, she was named the Division III Northeast Lakes All-District Player of the Year for a second straight season, the All-Ohio Co-Player of the Year, and a finalist for Ms. Basketball. She also became the fourth girls basketball player in Ohio high school history to reach 2,000 career points. Hillmon verbally committed to play basketball at Michigan on July 4, 2017, following her graduation from Gilmour Academy.
Path to Basketball
Hillmon entered the University of Michigan in 2018 as one of the most decorated high school players in Ohio history. Her transition to the college level was immediate, and she became a central figure of the Wolverines program for four seasons. Her work on the boards and her ability to score efficiently from the post helped lay the foundation for one of the most successful individual runs in Big Ten Conference history.
Nazahrah Ansaria Hillmon Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
During the 2018–19 freshman season, Hillmon appeared in all 34 games for the Wolverines off the bench, averaging a team-high 13.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and a .628 field goal percentage. She added a team-high eight double-doubles and finished sixth nationally in field goal percentage as the only freshman in the top 50. She was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year by the media, Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year by the coaches, first-team All-Big Ten, and to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
As a sophomore in 2019–20, Hillmon started all 32 games and scored in double figures 28 times with 11 double-doubles. She ranked in the top five in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.4 points per game, rebounding at 8.7 per game, and field goal percentage at .567, finishing the year with 558 points, 277 rebounds, and a 56.7 shooting percentage. She was again a unanimous All-Big Ten first-team selection.
Michigan Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Her junior season in 2020–21 turned Hillmon into a national name. On January 21, 2021, she recorded a career-high 50 points and 16 rebounds against an opponent, setting the all-time single-game scoring record in Michigan basketball history, man or woman, and recording the program’s first 50-point game. She surpassed the previous women’s record of 45 points set by Diane Dietz in 1982 and the men’s record of 48 points set by Rudy Tomjanovich in 1969, while also setting a program record with 20 made field goals.
Hillmon finished the season averaging 25.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 10 double-doubles while shooting .648 from the field. She was named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, becoming only the second player in Big Ten history to earn Freshman of the Year, Sixth Player of the Year, and Player of the Year honors. She was named a first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated and the USBWA and a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, becoming the first Wolverine to earn All-America honors. She was also named University of Michigan Athlete of the Year.
As a senior in 2021–22, Hillmon was named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and added another layer to her legacy. On January 27, 2022, she became Michigan’s all-time leading rebounder, passing the previous record of 928 set by Trish Andrew in 1993. On February 27, she became the first player in Michigan program history, man or woman, to reach 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. During the 2022 NCAA tournament, she helped Michigan advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history, recording a double-double in all four games.
She averaged 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, with 17 double-doubles, and was named a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection. She was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, the first player in program history to earn that honor, and was also recognized by the WBCA, USBWA, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and the Wooden Award. She finished her Michigan career as the program leader in rebounds (1,063), double-doubles (52), and free throws made (487), and second in scoring with 2,183 points.
Atlanta Dream Era (2022–Present)
On April 11, 2022, Hillmon was selected in the second round, 15th overall, by the Atlanta Dream in the 2022 WNBA draft, becoming Michigan’s highest WNBA draft pick ever and the first Wolverine drafted since 2005. During her rookie season, she averaged 4.4 points and 5.1 rebounds across 34 games, setting the Atlanta franchise rookie rebounding record with 172 boards and finishing fifth in the league in rookie rebounding.
Hillmon continued to develop her game with the Dream, working to expand her shooting range while remaining a high-energy presence on the glass. Her steady growth into a rotation cornerstone culminated in 2025, when she averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds while making 53 three-pointers after hitting just one across her first three WNBA seasons. She appeared in 27 games off the bench and set a franchise record with 150 consecutive games played. She ranked second in the league with a +7.6 plus-minus per game and was named the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hillmon combines a strong, physical interior game with a steadily improving perimeter shot. Her rebounding, screening, and efficiency around the basket remain her defining traits, while her growing three-point range has made her a more complete offensive weapon. She is recognized for her durability, team-first mentality, and ability to impact winning with plus-minus numbers, all of which have made her a trusted contributor for the Atlanta Dream.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hillmon’s signature moment came on January 21, 2021, when she exploded for 50 points and 16 rebounds, the first 50-point game in Michigan basketball history. She also became the first player in Michigan history to reach 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, set the program record for made field goals in a single game, and was named University of Michigan Athlete of the Year.
Nazahrah Ansaria Hillmon Career Wins
Across her high school, college, and professional career, Hillmon has built a résumé highlighted by major individual awards and team success, including OHSAA, Big Ten, and WNBA honors, a WNBL postseason selection, and three international gold medals.
WNBA and WNBL Highlights
In the WNBA, Hillmon’s most decorated season came in 2025, when she was named the league’s Sixth Player of the Year after setting an Atlanta Dream franchise record by appearing in 150 consecutive games. In the WNBL, she spent 2023–24 with the Melbourne Boomers, averaging 15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds, and earned All-WNBL Second Team honors. She then signed with the Southside Flyers for the 2024–25 WNBL season and later earned All-WNBL First Team recognition in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Hillmon helped the United States win gold at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Women’s Americas Championship in Mexico, the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Thailand, where she served as team captain, and the 2021 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Puerto Rico.
Nazahrah Ansaria Hillmon Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in Hillmon’s family. Her mother, NaSheema Hillmon, played college basketball at Vanderbilt and professionally for the Nashville Noise of the American Basketball League. Her father, Fred Baker, played both basketball and football at Vanderbilt University. Hillmon is also the niece of professional basketball player Jawad Williams.
Personal Life
Off the court, Hillmon is recognized for her connection to her family and to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She continues to be active on social media, where she shares glimpses of her professional and personal life with fans.
2025 Season Performance
Hillmon’s 2025 WNBA campaign with the Atlanta Dream marked the most impactful season of her professional career to date. She averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds across the year, expanded her offensive range by hitting 53 three-pointers, and appeared in 27 games off the bench while logging 150 consecutive games for the franchise. Her plus-minus impact ranked second in the league at +7.6, and she capped the year with WNBA Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Beyond Atlanta, Hillmon also played in the 2024–25 WNBL season with the Southside Flyers and joined Unrivaled on a relief player contract in March 2025, giving her a heavy offseason workload. Her growth as a stretch big and her consistency on the boards have positioned her as a building block for the Dream as the franchise eyes the next phase of its competitive window.
With her 2025 WNBA award and her international résumé secured, Hillmon entered the 2025–26 cycle with momentum, including a newly announced role with Laces BC in Unrivaled for the 2026 season. Her continued development as a shooter and leader should keep her at the center of the Atlanta Dream’s rotation in the seasons ahead.
