Tiana Manga Kahia Passes Away at 30
Tiana Manga Kahia, celebrated for her exceptional passing and playmaking skills on Syracuse’s women’s basketball team, sadly passed away on Thursday at the age of 30 after a long struggle with cancer.
The news of her death was shared through posts on her Instagram, which were also confirmed by Syracuse Athletics. One of the posts read, “Tiana was a shining light that touched the lives of everyone she met with her kindness, strength, and warmth. She fought to the end and showed courage and grace beyond words.”
In a post dated September 3rd, Manga Kahia spoke about her deteriorating health, noting that her cancer had “advanced” and caused a “significant physical decline.”
Her public battle with cancer began during her junior year at Syracuse. Originally from Queensland, Australia, she moved to the U.S. to play basketball, starting at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas before joining the Orange under coach Quentin Hillsman. Manga Kahia quickly made a name for herself as a talented point guard, displaying a keen basketball IQ and impressive court vision. As a sophomore, she led the nation in assists, averaging 9.8 per game—only surpassed since 2009 by Courtney Vandersloot in 2011.
In her first two seasons at Syracuse, Manga Kahia consistently posted remarkable assist rates, contributing to the team’s advancement into the NCAA Tournament each year.
Her first cancer diagnosis emerged in November 2019, which led to a double mastectomy and the loss of the entire 2019-20 season due to her battle with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma.
Returning bravely to the court the following season, she helped lead the Orange back to March Madness, averaging 11.5 points and 7.2 assists per game, finishing again as one of the top assist leaders in the country.
Coach Hillsman remarked on her remarkable achievement, “If someone has more than 600 days off and is back leading the country in assists, that’s an amazing achievement.” In February 2021, shortly after announcing she would forgo her extra year of eligibility, she stated her intention to pursue a professional career instead.
Manga Kahia exited Syracuse holding numerous program and ACC records, including career assists per game and free throw percentage. She was a finalist for various prestigious awards and set several single-game records for assists and free throws.
According to the NCAA Record Book, her career assists rank among the best for university players this century.
Although she wasn’t selected in the 2021 WNBA Draft, she briefly participated in a training camp with the Phoenix Mercury before embarking on an international career that took her to Russia, France, and back to her home country. In 2022, she was named an NBL1 North All-Star and MVP, also representing Australia at the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup, where her team won a bronze medal.
Manga Kahia announced her retirement in 2023 after her breast cancer progressed to stage 4 but returned to play in the NBL1 earlier this year, averaging 12.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, with plans to play in upcoming seasons after signing with New Zealand’s Tokomanawa Queens.
Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack expressed the profound impact she had, stating, “Tiana defined courage, inspiration, and passion. On the court, she was extraordinary, and off the court, she radiated kindness and care, even during tough times.”
Current director Felisha Leijon said that Manga Kahia epitomized the “ultimate fighter.” Remarks from others in women’s basketball echoed similar sentiments, with Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham recalling her as always having “the brightest smile.” North Carolina Coach Courtney Banghart praised her as “a great competitor, a true leader, always acting with class.” Additionally, Rhode Island coach Tami Rice noted how uniquely Manga Kahia played her position.
