Former Syracuse basketball player Tiana Mangakahia dies following cancer battle

Mangakahia’s family announced her passing on the athlete’s Instagram. “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.”

The post continued, “Though our hearts ache without her, her legacy and the love she gave will stay with us forever. We will continue to honour her in everything we do. We love you endlessly, Tiana, and will miss you always.”

Mangakahia was a member of Syracuse’s women’s basketball team from 2017 to 2021. During her time there, she was a two-time All-ACC first-team selection, a two-time WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mention selection, Associated Press (AP) All-America Honorable Mention, Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award finalist, and was awarded the Syracuse 8 Courage Award, according to Syracuse.

Mangakahia produced historic numbers for Syracuse. The Australian holds Syracuse single-game records for assists overall, with 17 in a game against Vanderbilt, and assists in an ACC Tournament game with 13 against Miami in 2019. Additionally, she recorded the fourth triple-double in program history in January 2019 when she scored 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a matchup against North Carolina.

She also holds the program record for single-game free throws both made and attempted in a 20-for-21 performance from the line against Georgia Tech in 2018. In that game, Mangakahia scored a total of 44 points, the second-most in program history, per Syracuse’s press release. She later matched that 44-point performance on Feb. 28, 2019, against Florida State.

Amidst her phenomenal career at Syracuse, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2019 and missed the 2019-20 season after undergoing surgery in November 2019. A year later, she returned to the court and was named to the Australian Senior National Team preliminary roster for the 2020 Olympics, before ultimately opting to focus on her health and not participate in the Olympics.

“Tiana defined courage, inspiration, and passion. An All-American on the basketball court, she was an even better person off the court. She was kind, considerate, caring, and always uplifting, even during the most challenging of times.” Syracuse’s athletics director, John Wildhack, said in a statement.

In 2021, Mangakahia and Kamilla Cardoso, current Chicago Sky center, led their Syracuse team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but their season was cut short with a loss to Connecticut. She graduated from Syracuse having guided the Orange to three NCAA Tournaments while holding multiple career program records: 736 career assists, 8.7 assists per game, and an 87.3% free-throw percentage.

Syracuse Women’s Basketball posted a video honoring Mangakahia on X. “Rest in peace, @Tianamanga. You are Forever Orange🍊,” the caption read.

Although she went undrafted in the 2021 WNBA Draft, Mangakahia was signed to a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury, playing under fellow Australian Sandy Brondello, but was waived from the roster. She went on to play professional basketball in Russia, France, and in her home country of Australia, where she made her Opals debut at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. The team brought home a bronze medal.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tiana Mangakahia,” Basketball Australia said in a statement. “Tiana inspired us all with her courage and resilience as she faced a second battle with breast cancer. Her return to the court in the NBL1 earlier this year with the Southern Districts Spartans was a powerful reflection of her strength, determination, and enduring love for the game.”

In 2023, Mangakahia’s cancer returned, leading her to retire from basketball. However, she became an assistant coach with the Sydney Flames of the WNBL. In 2025, she came out of retirement as a player and signed with the Southern District Spartans in Australia’s NBL1 where she averaged 12.1 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Shortly after returning to the court, Mangakahia had to step away from the game as her health had rapidly declined. “Over the last five days, my health has taken a negative turn,” she announced in an Instagram post, adding that the cancer had progressed and she was “experiencing significant physical decline.”

She concluded that post with this: “Thank you for walking this path with me. Your love and strength carry me through more than you know.”

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