The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542201
BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN ilda Trygger often wears a smile on her face. Whether she's launching herself through the air to grab a rebound or catching a breather on the bench, NC State's go-to center exudes a sense of joy whenever she's on the court. Playing with a loose yet excited attitude has paid dividends for Trygger, who has become one of the Wolfpack's top play- ers in just her second season of college basketball. It's been a learning experience, with Trygger going from a bench player eagerly pushing for playing time to filling an integral role within the Pack's front- court this season. And as the 6-foot-6 sophomore has improved over the course of her brief col- lege career, the Wolfpack has done so, too. Building Confidence Unlike the rest of NC State's roster, Trygger didn't spend last summer work- ing out in Raleigh. Instead, she starred for the Swedish National Team in the U20 EuroBasket tournament. Trygger, who also trained with Swe- den's Senior National Team, was one of the more experienced players on the floor for her home country. She was able to assert herself in the paint, helping guide Sweden to a fourth-place finish with 15.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in seven appearances over the summer. The international stage provided an op- portunity for Trygger to refine her game with stronger post moves and an im- proved ability to run the floor. It was also critical in boosting her confidence level while she played under her former youth coach. She knew she could play well at the collegiate level after a breakout ACC All- Freshman campaign with the Wolfpack, during which she averaged 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while totaling 22 blocks. Her performance at the EuroBasket tourney offered even more proof of her growth, and she brought those traits back with her from Portugal to Reynolds Coliseum this season, deploying them throughout an early-season schedule that was filled with high-pressure games against four ranked opponents through the first two months of the year. "I feel like my confidence has trans- ferred coming back here," Trygger said. "It's a bigger game that we play here. You've got to go in believing in yourself. T FRONT AND FRONT AND CENTER CENTER Sophomore Tilda Trygger Embraces Her Leadership Role With The Wolfpack JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 ■ 35 Trygger was averaging 11.5 points and 7.9 rebounds through NC State's first 12 games this season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS