Across multiple sports, several Elon University athletes are stepping into larger roles and delivering pivotal performances. From breakout scorers on the court to record-setting runs on the track, the Phoenix have found impact players up and down the roster, offering a snapshot of the depth and momentum building across Elon athletics.
In the past two weeks, these four athletes have showcased themselves as predominant parts of their teams and Elon athletics overall.
Freshman guard emerges as key piece for women’s basketball
Freshman Ashanti Fox has wasted no time making her presence known. The 5’7” guard from Vass, North Carolina, was named the Coastal Athletic Association’s Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks — quickly establishing herself as one of the Phoenix’s most reliable contributors. Fox scored a career-high 17 points against University of North Carolina, Wilmington, on Jan. 16, showcasing the offensive confidence and poise that have defined her first collegiate season.
Despite coming off the bench, Fox leads Elon in minutes played, a testament to the trust the coaching staff has placed in her. With sophomore Jayda Angel sidelined due to injury, Fox has stepped into a demanding role as a primary playmaker. Her play has helped stabilize the offense while continuing to produce scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. Through her first season, Fox is averaging 8.6 points per game, second most by a freshman in the CAA, per ESPN.
What separates Fox is her combination of quickness and shooting touch. She uses shifty ball-handling to create space and is a consistent threat from deep, shooting 35% from 3-point range. As CAA play continues, Fox’s emergence has given Elon a new offensive weapon and a glimpse of a future cornerstone for the program.
No. 7’s breakout season fuels men’s basketball offense
Graduate student Chandler Cuthrell has transformed Elon men’s basketball almost overnight. After transferring from Purdue University Fort Wayne prior to the 2025–26 season, the 6’8” forward arrived with modest career numbers, having averaged just 6.1 points per game before joining the Phoenix. Now, he’s become the centerpiece of Elon’s offense, leading the team with 21 points per game, the third-highest average in the CAA for men’s basketball.
Cuthrell’s impact is most obvious in the paint. He thrives when attacking the basket, using his length and strength to muscle past defenders and finish through contact. Even when he’s not scoring, his physical presence strains opposing defenses. That pressure shows up in the statistics sheet at the free-throw line, where Cuthrell attempts an average of 7.8 free throws per game, ranking 14th in all of Division I, according to ESPN.
The Phoenix now have a go-to scorer who can control tempo, absorb contact and keep the offense afloat during scoring droughts. As conference play intensifies, Cuthrell’s consistency and physicality will remain central to Elon’s hopes of climbing CAA standings.
Statement win signals big season for men’s tennis sophomore
After earning All-CAA First Team singles honors in 2025, sophomore Rafael Ymer opened his 2026 spring season with a statement win, defeating No. 73-ranked Alexander Frusina of Texas A&M 6–4, 6–4. The performance earned him CAA Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors and reaffirmed his status as one of the conference’s top competitors.
Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Ymer brings an aggressive style built on power and precision. Rather than engaging in long, grinding rallies, he looks to dictate points early — using pace and placement to overwhelm opponents. He’s quickly becoming one of the pillars of Elon’s men’s tennis.
Now in his second season with the Phoenix, Ymer is no longer just a breakout talent, he’s a leader at the top of the lineup. As the spring season continues, Ymer’s performances will likely play a major role in determining how far the Phoenix can climb within the CAA and beyond.
Atlanta native resets Elon’s cross country record books
At the Liberty Open, redshirt junior Katie Blount won the 3,000 meters in record-setting fashion. She crossed the line in 9:18.51. It’s the fastest time in Elon’s history and crushes the previous record by more than six seconds. This performance is the latest milestone in what has already been a historic Elon career.
The Atlanta native has been a cornerstone of Elon’s distance programs, most notably during the 2025 cross country season, when she helped lead the Phoenix to a CAA championship and earned CAA Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year honors. That same year, Blount broke Elon’s women’s records in both the 5K and 6K and placed first at the CAA Championships with the second-best time in conference history.
Blount’s success is defined by consistency as much as speed. As the indoor and outdoor seasons continue, her performances will continue to redefine what’s possible for the program.