Mangakahia Will Return to the Court for 2020-21 Season
10/2/2020 10:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
After missing the 2019-20 season while battling breast cancer, Tiana Mangakahia will return to competition this year. Mangakahia has been granted an Extension of Eligibility waiver by the NCAA and will be able to complete her collegiate eligibility in the 2020-21 season.
She's officially back 🙌@TianaManga has been granted an Extension of Eligibility waiver by the NCAA. pic.twitter.com/aQNGiiVZq6
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) October 2, 2020
Mangakahia courageously and publicly shared her journey from the time she was diagnosed in June 2019 through eight rounds of chemotherapy and two surgeries. The extension of eligibility will allow her to return to the court this season for competition for the first time since March of 2019. In April 2019, Mangakahia decided to put her WNBA dreams on hold when she announced her intention to return to Syracuse for her final year of eligibility. Two months later, she discovered a lump that was later determined as Stage 2 Grade 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Her battle with cancer forced her to watch the 2019-20 season from the sidelines.
In two seasons with the Orange, Mangakahia became the fastest player in program history to score 1,000 career points and has amassed 591 assists in 65 games. She was named WBCA All-America Honorable mention in 2019 and is a two-time All-ACC First Team selection.
The all-time leader in assists at Syracuse, Mangakahia was cleared by medical professionals to begin training in February, but was not cleared for competition during the 2019-20 season.
The NCAA rules regarding a student-athlete's five-year clock of eligibility would have required the 2019-20 season to be Mangakahia's final year of collegiate eligibility. However, the NCAA allows an institution to apply for an Extension of Eligibility waiver on behalf of a student-athlete when extenuating circumstances arise. Due to Mangakahia's extraordinary and unforeseen cancer diagnosis, the Syracuse University Office of Athletics Compliance was able to present the facts of Mangakahia's case to the NCAA. The NCAA agreed that the circumstances warranted Mangakahia be granted an extension of her five-year clock. As a result, Mangakahia will be allowed to complete her collegiate eligibility this season.
Mangakahia was tabbed as one of the nation's top rising seniors prior to her diagnosis and is projected as a WNBA Draft Pick. Joined in the backcourt by 2020 All-ACC First Team selection Kiara Lewis, three more starters from last season's 16-15 squad and the No. 4 recruiting class in the country, Mangakahia and the Orange should have everyone's attention when she returns to the court this season.
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