GRAND FORKS, N.D. – With an announcement that made waves in the collegiate sports world, North Dakota head women's basketball coach Dennis Hutter announced the signing of Kindred, N.D.-native and current Alabama softball star Abby Duchscherer for the 2026-27 season.
 
The two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and 2025 Easton Bama Bash and T-Mobile Crimson Classic MVP will compete in her upcoming senior season at Alabama before making the nationally-headlining move to UND for a season of hoops in her home state as a grad transfer.
 
"Abby is going to be a great addition to our family," said Hutter. "She will make us better both on the floor and in the locker room. She is not just a good player; she is also a good person. We're excited to give Abby a chance to play basketball in her home state."
 
Through her first three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Duchscherer has appeared in 140 games with 85 hits, 13 home runs and 55 RBIs. The infielder holds a .995 career fielding percentage and has maintained a .273 career batting average at the plate.
 
In a post to X on Oct. 1, Duchscherer said, "I'm excited to share that I will be exploring the opportunity to play college basketball for the 2026-27 season. I am incredibly grateful for everything the University of Alabama has given me—the coaches, teammates ad memories here have shaped me in ways I will carry forever."
 
Duchscherer was named the North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020 as a sophomore for the Vikings and was the first such selection from Kindred High School, averaging 20.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.2 steals during her campaign.
 
Additionally, she was a three-sport athlete, was a regular on the varsity squad beginning in seventh grade, earned a First Team All-State selection every year from eighth grade on, surpassed the 1,000-point mark as a freshman enroute to a total of 2,662 points over her career.
 
She ended her senior season averaging 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals with state tournament MVP honors and led her team to an undefeated season and state championship.
 
For more information on North Dakota Women's Basketball, follow on social media @UNDwbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.