THE FLATS – Recognizing their successes from the 2020-21 season, Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach Nell Fortner was named Outstanding Coach, presented by The Home Depot, while Moses Wright was tabbed Outstanding College Athlete, for the Atlanta Sports Awards. The 16th annual Atlanta Sports Awards, presented by the Atlanta Sports Council, are decided through fan voting and the Council’s voting committee.
Fortner was nominated alongside fellow Yellow Jacket, Josh Pastner, Atlanta Braves’ Brian Snitker and Georgia women’s basketball’s head coach Joni Taylor.
Georgia Tech women’s basketball saw tremendous success in 2020-21, highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Yellow Jackets made their 10th appearance in the Big Dance and defeated Stephen F. Austin and West Virginia to claim a spot in the Sweet 16 for only the second time in program history. Tech finished the season at 17-9 overall and appeared at No. 22 in the final USA Today/WBCA Top 25 Postseason Coaches Poll.
Fortner, who was named the 2021 ACC Coach of the Year by the Blue Ribbon Panel, was one of several Yellow Jackets to receive accolades during the season. Lorela Cubaj was tabbed the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, while Lotta-Maj Lahtinen was named the ACC Most Improved Player. Both Cubaj and Lahtinen were also named WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mention.
Nell Fortner recognized as 2021 Outstanding Coach during the Atlanta Sports Awards. Video courtesy of 11Alive.
Wright was nominated for Outstanding College Athlete alongside Georgia’s Jake Magahey (swimming), Georgia’s Jenna Staiti (women’s basketball) and fellow Yellow Jacket Tyler Strafaci (golf).
The 2021 ACC Player of the Year, Wright finished his collegiate career helping the Yellow Jackets win the ACC Tournament Championship and earn a postseason berth into the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Wright collected All-ACC first team honors, ACC All-Defensive Team recognition and was named the Georgia Co-Player of the Year (with teammate Jose Alvarado) by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Wright started 25 games last season and led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He made the USWBA All-District IV team and was voted honorable mention All-America by the Associated Press.
Moses Wright recognized as 2021 Outstanding College Athlete during the Atlanta Sports Awards. Video courtesy of 11Alive.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
