Ex-Syracuse star Mangakahia dies from cancer

Tiana Mangakahia, a erstwhile Syracuse prima who played nonrecreational hoops successful Russia, France and her location state of Australia, has died aft a agelong conflict with cancer, her household announced Friday. She was 30.

"We are heartbroken to stock the passing of our beauteous Tiana Mangakahia," her household wrote connected her societal media account. "She near america connected (Thursday), surrounded by family, friends and tons of love. Tiana was a shining airy who touched the lives of everyone she met with her kindness, strength, and warmth. She fought close till the precise end, showing courageousness and grace beyond words."

Mangakahia was diagnosed successful June 2019 and went done 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 2 operations. She enactment her WNBA ambitions connected clasp successful April of that twelvemonth and chose to instrumentality to Syracuse for her last twelvemonth of eligibility.

"Syracuse Athletics mourns the passing of Tiana Mangakahia," Syracuse manager of athletics John Wildhack said successful a statement. "Tiana defined courage, inspiration and passion. An All-American connected the hoops court, she was an adjacent amended idiosyncratic disconnected the court."

After her assemblage vocation ended, Mangakahia played professionally successful Russia, France and Australia. Unfortunately, a caller crab diagnosis forced her to instrumentality a interruption from playing and determination into coaching.

The Sydney Kings men's squad and Sydney Flames women's squad had a double-header past twelvemonth that served arsenic a bosom crab consciousness fundraiser for Mangakahia. She was an adjunct with the Flames astatine the time.

"We are profoundly saddened to larn of the passing of Tiana Mangakahia," Basketball Australia said successful a statement. "Tiana inspired america each with her courageousness and resilience arsenic she faced a 2nd conflict with bosom cancer. Her instrumentality to the tribunal successful the NBL1 earlier this twelvemonth with the Southern Districts Spartans was a almighty reflection of her strength, determination, and enduring emotion for the game."