Australian basketball has produced many iconic figures who left their imprint on the game, both at home and overseas. Few stories, however, carry the depth of resilience and heart as that of Tiana Mangakahia. From dazzling the courts at Syracuse with record-breaking assists to fighting through a breast cancer diagnosis at just 24, her journey embodied courage beyond the hardwood. Sadly, the basketball world is now united in grief, as news breaks of her passing at 30 years of age.

Truly, it is a dark day for the worldwide and Australian basketball community. Mangakahia, who earned her name competing in the WNBL, passed away on September 11, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. It was her long-fought battle with cancer that took away the basketball star. Her family shared the news in an Instagram post, stating, “We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beautiful Tiana Mangakahia. She left us on 11/09/2025, 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.”

Her battle with cancer was a long-fought one. Her first confrontation with breast cancer came in 2019, while she was attending college in the US. She underwent chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery, but refused to let it derail her dreams. She returned to play soon after, still electrifying the court with her creativity in the collegiate season. In the years that followed, she represented Australia in international competition, played for teams like the Sydney Flames in the WNBL, and also made a preseason WNBA debut. Regional Australian outlets, such as ABC News Australia, highlighted how her family, parents Terei and Cynthia, along with her five brothers, provided unwavering support during treatment, with family members rotating to attend every chemotherapy session in Syracuse.

Unfortunately, in 2023, her cancer returned and had progressed to stage four, forcing her to retire from professional play. Yet even then, her journey didn’t end with giving up. Earlier this year, she made a brief return to court with the Southern Districts Spartans in Australia’s NBL1 North, her junior club from her early days in Queensland. That return, with its physical challenges, was both a testament to her love of the game and her fighting spirit, which praised her for helping the team reach the grand final series despite her health struggles. However, her health worsened soon after the end of the season.

Following the message from her family, tributes have poured in from all corners of the basketball community. Everyone has echoed the same sentiment: Tiana’s courage and her love of the game will never be forgotten.

Tributes flood in: Basketball stars and fans celebrate Tiana Mangakahia’s enduring impact

Mangakahia loved what she did and excelled at it. She made her WNBL debut at just sixteen years old, showcasing that she can back her love for the game with skills. As the news broke, the basketball community in Australia, with the WNBA bidding her final farewell with, “Vale Tiana Mangakahia.” The tributes soon followed. Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson shared her sorrow, writing: “Sending love” with a heartbroken emoji.

Fellow Australian player Maddie Garrick admitted the loss left her speechless, commenting: “I am lost for words. Sending so much love and support to all those close to you, and especially your family. Beautiful soul! Rest peacefully, T.” Other Australian basketballers Mitch McCarron, Ally Wilson, and Josh Giddey also joined the mourning. From Russia, Yana Kosogortseva echoed the grief with her heartfelt message: “We will never forget you, T from Russia with love.” 

In her brief career, Mangakahia played a year in Russia for Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Women’s Premier League. She also played this side of the Pacific, with her lone WNBA game for the Phoenix Mercury during the 2021 pre-season. However, it was enough to leave an impact. Ex-Mercury player Sophie Cunningham shared her tribute, stating, “She was always so sweet with the brightest smile.”

Wings player Paige Bueckers joined in the mourning, writing: “Prayers” with a folded hands emoji. Bueckers, a UConn Husky, often crossed paths with Mangakahia in their collegiate season. The Australian player competed for Syracuse University, setting the stage for her professional career. In just her first two seasons at Syracuse in 2017-18, Mangakahia rewrote the record books by becoming the program’s all-time assists leader while also surpassing the 1,000-point milestone. Her brilliance on the court earned her first-team All-ACC honors in both campaigns.

But in June 2019, Mangakahia found a lump in her breast and was later diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She chose treatment at Syracuse, supported by coach Quentin Hillsman and family members who attended every chemotherapy session. When she lost her hair, she embraced her baldness, as all her brothers shaved their heads in solidarity. Her battle with cancer was a long and hard-fought one. A fan wrote, “So young and this is so sad. Cancer is such a thief and doesn’t discriminate.”

Another fan joined in the grief, stating, “I got to know about Tiana and her brave fight with cancer a couple of months ago and have been praying that she makes it through. So sad to see a young woman cut down by cancer in her prime. Prayers for her family and friends, and loved ones here in the USA and the South Pacific.” Her passing reminds us that athletes are so much more than their stats. They carry stories of love, family, struggle, and triumph. Stories that inspire long after the final buzzer. And for Tiana Mangakahia, what she leaves behind is a legacy of unstoppable perseverance.