Former University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball player Nicole Hernandez has signed a contract to play professionally with Al Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Al Sharjah competes in UAE – D1. After competing for Minnesota Crookston for the last three seasons, Hernandez is the first Golden Eagle to sign to play with a professional basketball team.
Hernandez holds the school’s career shot blocks record with 167 from 2022-25. Hernandez set the single-season mark with 80 blocked shots during the 2024-25 season. She averaged 8.1 rebounds per game in her career, which is in the Top 10 all-time. She is top five in defensive rebounds in a season, and is sixth in defensive rebounds in a career. Hernandez ranks ninth in career rebounds with 546. She averaged 6.2 points per game in her career, with her best scoring mark coming as a senior with 8.0 points per game. Hernandez is a native of Oak Creek, Wis., and is one of 11 former Golden Eagles competing professionally in baseball, hockey, or basketball.
