Syracuse basketball guard Tiana Mangakahia has announced that she has returned to the hardwood. Here are all the details.
Syracuse basketball star Tiana Mangakahia on July 1, 2019, revealed to the world on Twitter that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis came a few weeks prior, on June 18. Then on February 24, 2020, Mangakahia announced she has been cleared to return to practice.
In the eight-plus months since the diagnosis Mangakahia has shared the steps that she has gone through on her fight. Like, On October 11, 2019, when she went through her final Chemotherapy treatment surrounded by several teammates.
Or when she went in for surgery about a month later. Then a few days later official word was shared on November 7, 2019, the news everyone was eager to hear, Mangakahia was cancer-free.
With the news of being cancer-free out there everyone was now just waiting to hopefully hear when Mangakahia was able to return to her passion; the hardwood. That day has come.
"“Great news! Cleared to start practicing again! I can’t wait for the future! Thank you for all the support and love from every single person. Excited is an understatement!”"
Great news 🙏🏼 Cleared to start practicing again! Can not wait for the future. Thank you for all the support and love from every single person. Excited is an understatement 🏀🍊
— Tiana Mangakahia (@Tianamanga) February 24, 2020
In a video released by the NCAA Women’s Basketball Twitter account in mid-February, titled Tiana Mangakahia: Getting Back to Basketball. There is a sense of fire and desire coming from Mangakahia as she opens up to just how much she misses practice.
The video opens up as Mangakahia reads a letter she penned for her love; basketball and how it will be the “biggest part of (her) comeback journey.”
As Mangakahia reads, one point she sits forward as her voice begins to shake and that emotion is instantly felt by the viewer. Everyone following Mangakahia’s fight, career, and life knows the passion she has for the game and how genuine these words from Mangakahia are.
"“Dear Basketball, we”ve been on this journey for 19 years,” Mangakahia reads, “and I know we will be doing life together for many more.” via Tiana Mangakahia: Getting Back to Basketball"
There is no announced timetable for Mangakahia to return to game action. For today that does not matter. Mangakahia has taken another step in her recovery. Mangakahia today returns to basketball. Mangakahia is ready to start that biggest part of her comeback journey.