Getting Back to Where She Belongs
After over a year of being removed from the game, Syracuse Women’s Basketball star guard Tiana Mangakahia will be making her long awaited return to the court. The NCAA has granted Mangakahia one more year of eligibility, in order to play during the 2020-2021 season. Tiana has been on a very long and inspiring journey, when last year her senior season was interrupted after being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.
Being one of the top point guards in the country, the Orange missed Tiana’s presence on the court last year. As the ultimate playmaker and distributor of the ball, Tiana has quite the resume after playing just three years at Syracuse.
The fastest thousand-point scorer in school history and all-time leader in assists are just a couple of the accolades that make Tiana stand out. Two summers ago, Tiana was ready to continue to add more accomplishments to her list, but little did she know that on June 18, 2019 her life would take an unexpected turn.
Being over 10,000 miles away from Brisbane, Australia, Tiana’s family wanted her to come home to undergo treatment. As difficult as a decision as it must have been, Tiana decided to stay in Syracuse to do her treatment here.
Head coach Quentin Hillsman along with her teammates were there to support her through it all. They came to visit her after her double mastectomy, after she was announced cancer free, and after her very last chemotherapy session.
One of the most important things to have when someone is going through a difficult time is a strong support system. Tiana gives so much credit to her family, friends, coaches, and teammates for helping her fight through this difficult time period.
Rather than dwelling on what she had to go through, Tiana made sure to stay positive no matter what. She focused on pushing through to the very end and knew it was going to make her stronger for it.
“Every little thing helped no matter what it was, and it helped me stay positive and strong. That was my one thing going through it was to always stay positive no matter what.”
Tiana shared that there is one word that helped her through the toughest of days battling with breast cancer. That word is independence.
She carries the word with her everywhere she goes on her bracelet. Michelle Malara who works with the women’s basketball team through the FCA (the Fellowship of Christian Athletes), provided Tiana and the rest of the team with these bracelets. Each bracelet has a word during the year of 2020 that is inspirational to each player.
Tiana discussed the importance of remembering what she learned during her battle with breast cancer and being able to help support those who are going through similar fights. Now that we are in October, it is a month that will forever remind Tiana of the journey she had to endure.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time where so many women can reflect on what they went through, as well as a time when they can share their stories. Tiana has been very open about listening to anyone who wants to reach out to her over social media, seeking advice and guidance.
“I am really supportive of people who are going through it and I have actually connected with women who are going through it now…I am always there for people and if they want to reach out to me, I will always be down to share our experiences,” shared Mangakahia.
It has been a long road to recovery, but Tiana will finally be returning back to where she belongs on the court when the season tips off in November. After her battle, Tiana says she feels stronger than she was before her diagnosis.
“Being able to push through and then when you get through it you just feel so much more accomplished and you feel stronger than you were before,” Tiana had to say.
Being out for almost a year, Tiana has needed to slowly build her way back onto the court. After battling through breast cancer, Tiana was hit with another roadblock in her game when the Coronavirus pandemic started to takeover back in February.
Even though the pandemic kept Tiana out of the gym it actually benefited her return. “It kind of helped me that other players also could not practice because I had just been out for a year. I was able to slowly and gradually get my way back onto the court, instead of it being kind of forced and pressured” said Tiana.
When COVID-19 kept us in our homes and glued to our TVs, Tiana had a really great support system in her five brothers. Tiana attributes them to being extremely helpful with motivating her to go for runs, to get to the park, and rebounding all the jumpers she put up.
Tiana knows she has to keep working hard but is really happy with where her game is now considering everything she had to go through. “I feel very confident about going into this season. I know there is still more, I don’t feel like I am as quick as I was, like speed wise, but I’m still, I still know how to hoop.”
When the season starts up in November, it is going to look very different without the thousands of Syracuse fans in the Carrier Dome chanting Tiana’s name. That first moment back on the court will be nerve wracking for Tiana due to her absence, but she is really excited to return back to where she belongs.
“I am super excited to just be on the court with the girls. This is my last year of playing college basketball, so I just want to give it my all and I want to play the best that I can.”
Being out for a year has made Tiana more motivated to be successful and to help bring the team many victories this upcoming season. Tiana has big expectations for the Orange going into November.
“I tell the team this like almost every day. We are very good, and we can be a top five team; we can make it to the final four.”
Back in September, the women’s team was ranked 23 in ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early Top 25.” Tiana loves the fact that the Orange were ranked as underdogs because it provides an opportunity for the team to prove many wrong. As one of the country’s most elite point guards, Tiana is confident in her abilities to help lead the Orange to a successful season.
According to Chris Hansen from Hoop Gurlz, Coach Hillsman brought in the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class bringing in seven new freshmen to the squad. The Orange brought in two All-Americans in Kamilla Cardoso and Priscilla Williams.
“Kamilla is really versatile; she can do everything. We really need her to come in and do what she does at practice every day. As well as Priscilla. She can shoot really well; she can shoot the three which is what we were kind of missing last year. They are all really good,” Tiana said.
Coming off of a 16-15 season without Tiana, the Orange are excited to have their star player back out there. Going into her final year in a Syracuse uniform, Tiana is looking forward to making the most of every second she is out there.
Tiana reflected on her time at Syracuse and when her playing days do come to an end as an Orange, she wants to be remembered as so much more than just what she was able to accomplish on the floor.
“I want to be remembered as a kind person. Yeah, I’m good at basketball and all, but just me I would say, ‘aw Tiana she was just really kind and friendly, just a nice person to be around. A positive person, uplifting,’” Tiana had to say.
Syracuse has never retired a women’s basketball jersey number and it’s about time that changed. Being the all-time assists leader, battling through breast cancer, and just everything Tiana has done for Syracuse Women’s Basketball, it is only right that the #4 is sent to the rafter for good.
