Syracuse to Debut Custom Pink Nike Jerseys Sunday in Blacksburg

The Syracuse women's basketball team will debut new custom pink and white jerseys on Sunday against Virginia Tech. The Orange (11-5, 8-5 ACC) and Virginia Tech (11-7, 6-7 ACC) tip-off at Noon on Regional Sports Networks (YES Network in New York) with Evan Lepler and Kelley Deyo on the call.

Sunday is the Hokies #Play4Kay game in Cassell Coliseum and the Orange will wear the new custom uniforms for the breast cancer awareness game.

Syracuse has won two of its last three games and returns to the hardwood after a 10-day break since its last outing, a road loss at Florida State on Feb. 11. Freshman Kamilla Cardoso leads the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game, which is 11^th in the ACC and first among freshmen in the conference. Tiana Mangakahia (10.8 ppg) and Kiara Lewis (14.1 ppg) also average double figures in scoring this season. Junior Emily Engstler adds her defensive presence off the bench nearly averaging a double double with 9.5 points and 9.1 rebounds.

Virginia Tech is 8-4 at home this season under head coach Kenny Brooks. The Hokies are led by Aisha Sheppard (19.1 ppg) and Elizabeth Kitley (18.9 ppg, 11.3rpg). VT rides the longest win streak (four games) in the ACC into Sunday's game. They will play their first home game since a win against North Carolina on Jan. 31.

Syracuse leads the all-time series 8-6 and is 3-2 in on the road in Blacksburg. Last season, the Orange won, 67-65, behind a 19-point effort from Kiara Lewis including the game-winning basket with five seconds to go in regulation.

Fans can watch Sunday's game live on YES Network locally or through the ESPN App for out of market viewers.

Following Sunday's game, the Orange return home to host Boston College Thursday, Feb. 25. Tip off is set for 8 pm on ACC Network.

First 👀 at our new one-of-a-kind custom @Nike uniforms. pic.twitter.com/pypT23n4eC
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) February 21, 2021

About the Custom Uniforms
Syracuse senior Noah Hammerman, a graphic design student in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, worked with Nike to design the custom look the Orange will wear. Hammerman has been the lead graphic designer for the women's basketball team the last two years.

The design process began in the fall of 2019 during point guard Tiana Mangakahia's battle with Stage 2 breast cancer. Hammerman worked with Liz Friedman and Bill Gawne of Nike through the design and production process. Hammerman was also assisted by Syracuse Athletics' Senior Designer Melissa Miller.

Details in the Design
Syracuse wanted to honor the brave and courageous battles of those who have faced cancer in the Syracuse community, especially Mangakahia.
The side panel of both the top and bottom of the uniforms feature a 44-ribbon design signifying a special number at Syracuse University which is also Mangakahia's career-high in points, a feat she has reached twice during her 'Cuse career.

Four columns and 11 rows make up the 44-ribbon design with the number four also signifying Mangakahia's jersey number.

Syracuse alumni, former athletics administrator, and longtime supporter of the women's basketball program, Floyd Little wore #44 during his All-American football career with the Orange. Little passed away on Jan. 1, 2021 after a battle with cancer.

Hammerman also thought of another legendary #44 at Syracuse, Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner (1961) who died of leukemia in 1963, when tying in the #44 to the design.
The back of the jersey features one faint large ribbon to symbolize the "Power of One" a tie in to the #Play4Kay theme each year.

A "4T" patch will also be added to the Orange's jerseys for when Syracuse plays its #Play4Kay game on Feb. 28. The patch was worn by Syracuse's team and coaching staff each game in the month of February last season while Mangakahia was sidelined after eight rounds of chemotherapy and a bi-lateral mastectomy.