Tiana Mangakahia, Former Syracuse WCBB Star, Dies at Age 30

Former Syracuse University women's basketball star Tiana Mangakahia died of cancer Thursday at the age of 30.

Mangakahia's family announced her death Friday in a post on her Instagram account, writing:

"We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beautiful Tiana Mangakahia. She left us on [Thursday], surrounded by family, friends and lots of love. Tiana was a shining light who touched the lives of everyone she met with her kindness, strength, and warmth. She fought right till the very end, showing courage and grace beyond words."

The Syracuse Women's Basketball account on X followed with a post in memory of Mangakahia:

A guard from Queensland, Australia, Mangakahia was an All-ACC First Team selection at Syracuse in 2018 and 2019, averaging 17.1 points, 9.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.4 three-pointers made per game. She also led the NCAA in assists in 2017-18 and the ACC in assists in 2018-19.

Mangakahia seemed well on her way to being one of the top picks in the WNBA draft, but she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in June 2019, which required chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.

Rather than going to the WNBA once she was cancer-free, Mangakahia was granted a waiver to return for her senior season at Syracuse in 2020-21, and she appeared in 20 games for the Orange, averaging 11.4 points, 7.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals per contest.

Mangakahia spent time with the Phoenix Mercury in training camp after she was not selected in the 2021 WNBA draft, but she did not appear in a regular-season game for them.

Instead, she went on to play professionally in Australia, Russia and France, and she was named the NBL1 North MVP in 2022 when she starred for the Northside Wizards.

Mangakahia retired from playing and became a coach in 2023 after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2023, but she returned this year to play for the NBL1 North's Southern Districts Spartans before having to step away again.

During her break from playing, Mangakahia also spent some time as an assistant coach with the Sydney Flames of the WNBL.