Mangakahia Honored for Courage
5/12/2020 2:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Syracuse star point guard Tiana Mangakahia has traded in her Syracuse colors for a pink uniform each February since arriving at SU. In conjunction with teams across the country, she and her teammates wear pink to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Mangakahia always looked forward to the initiative, but this year it hit home. The uniforms for the 2019-20 season were more than a different color, they were more than a change in routine. They had a whole new meaning for Mangakahia. On June 18, 2019 her view changed. Mangakahia was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, – breast cancer.
"I know this will be tough, but I will get through it," shared Mangakahia through a post on her social media accounts on July 1 when she decided to share her diagnosis for the first time publicly.
Tiana Mangakahia beat cancer. This is her story through her words. pic.twitter.com/6DxtEbH81w
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 2, 2020
Mangakahia courageously and publicly battled cancer through four months of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries over the course of the school year. She continued to pursue her Master's degree in sports venue and event management in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She attended practices, home and away games, and worked out on her own while never letting her contagious smile leave her face.
Stay tuned 2020 🙏🏼 🍊 pic.twitter.com/kb9UO22MbU
— Tiana Mangakahia (@Tianamanga) December 17, 2019
As the campus and community rallied around her, Mangakahia bravely shaved off her hair and shared her journey openly on social media. She lifted others who were fighting the same battle up, including surprising some fellow breast cancer warriors at local high school "Pink" games.
In February 2020 Mangakahia was given the all-clear to being physical activity again. That next day she was in the Carmelo K. Anthony Center getting shots up.
Many things in Mangakahia's life were put on hold this year. After an invitation to Opals training camp, Australia's senior national team, Mangakahia had her sights set on making the roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She watched the 2020 WNBA Draft come and go. Prior to her diagnosis, her goal had been to hear her name called in the first round this year.
Throughout her battle, Mangakahia refused to let her diagnosis limit her — a true testament to her courage. She faced and conquered an unexpected life-changing challenge with tenacity.
Due to her tremendous bravery and courage, Mangakahia is the recipient of the 2020 Syracuse Eight Courage Award. The Syracuse Eight Courage Award is presented annually to a student-athlete who has overcome a socially, economically or otherwise disadvantaged background or serious injury and, in the opinion of his or her coaches and teammates, has demonstrated uncommon bravery or highly principled behavior in the face of adversity.
The Syracuse 8 Courage Award goes to someone who has served as an inspiration to us all over the last year, @CuseWBB's Tiana Mangakahia.#CuseAwards 🍊 pic.twitter.com/6Tm2n89W7n
— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) May 8, 2020
As Mangakahia begins this next chapter, one that will take her back to the court, there is no doubt she will do so with that same courage she used to battle breast cancer.
"I never knew what the pink uniforms really meant," Mangakahia said. "Now I do and it means so much more to me."
