Former Syracuse women’s basketball star Tiana Mangakahia dies from cancer at 30 years old

Tiana Mangakahia, who played college basketball at Syracuse before a four-year professional career overseas, died on Thursday after a long struggle with cancer. She was 30 years old.

A 5-foot-6 guard, Mangakahia earned first-team All-ACC honors during her first two seasons at Syracuse. As a sophomore, she averaged 17.5 points and 9.8 assists. The following season, she scored 16.9 points with 8.4 assists while shooting 37% on 3-pointers.

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Mangakahia holds Syracuse’s single-game record for assists with 17 versus Vanderbilt in 2017. Additionally, she holds the program’s single-season assists record with 304 in 2017-18 and career assists record with 736.

Mangakahia set program highs for free throws made (20) and attempted (21) during a 44-point performance against Georgia Tech in 2018. She matched that point total in 2019 versus Florida State, which is the second-highest in school history.

“The ultimate fighter!” said current women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack in a statement.

“We talk about ‘We Fight On’ with our women’s basketball team,” she continued. “Tiana embraced it, she lived it and inspired others through her fight. We are fortunate to have had Tiana as one of our own. Her legacy will live forever at Syracuse. May she rest in peace.”

During her career with the Orange, Mangakahia played under head coach Quentin Hillsman.

Mangakahia was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2019 and sat out the 2019-20 season while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. She eventually had a double mastectomy performed to remove the cancer. The Australian native returned for her final year of eligibility in the 2020-21 campaign.

“Tiana defined courage, inspiration, and passion. An All-American on the basketball court, she was an even better person off the court,” he added. “She was kind, considerate, caring, and always uplifting even during the most challenging of times.”

Following her career at Syracuse, Mangakahia was not selected in the WNBA draft but went through training camp with the Phoenix Mercury. She then returned to Australia to begin a professional basketball career in 2011 with the Brisbane Spartans of the South East Australian Basketball League.

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Her career continued in the Women’s National Basketball League with the Australian Institute of Sport and the Townsville Fire. She returned to Brisbane in 2014 and was a part of the Spartans’ SEABL championship.

Mangakahia also played in Russia with Dynamo Moscow and in France with Toulouse Métropole Basket before retiring in 2023 when her cancer returned and spread to other parts of her body. After two seasons of treatment, she returned for one more season with the Southern District Spartans of Australia’s NBL1 earlier this year.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tiana Mangakahia,” Basketball Australia said in a statement on Friday.

“Tiana inspired us all with her courage and resilience as she faced a second battle with breast cancer,” the organization said. “Her return to the court in the NBL1 earlier this year with the Southern Districts Spartans was a powerful reflection of her strength, determination, and enduring love for the game.”