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On February 24, the Sydney Flames will play a match that will be about so much more than basketball.
- The Sydney Flames will dedicate their match against Adelaide Lightning on February 24 to raising funds and awareness for breast cancer
- It's a personal cause for Tiana Mangakahia, given the Flames guard is a breast cancer survivor
- Mangakahia is passionate about sharing her story and struggle with others facing treatment
It's been a difficult WNBL season for the Flames but, when they take the court against the Adelaide Lightning, it will be a night to remember as they team up with the McGrath Foundation to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
For Tiana Mangakahia, it's an especially personal crusade: The 27-year-old is a breast cancer survivor and, in recovery, she's become passionate about helping others through their own journey.
"When I was first diagnosed and I was going through everything, it was hard to accept then. After chemo, after my surgeries, I really accepted it and I love speaking out about it, creating awareness for women and men and making sure they check themselves. I'm really free talking about it now," Mangakahia told ABC Sport.
"I believe that it won't come back. I know the percentage and the chances of it coming back in the next three years are quite high but I'm not scared at all for my future.
"When I was in America, that's where I had my chemotherapy, I had a nurse that really took care of me. I always think of her. I think of her quite often through my day and how she was really there for me during a really hard time.
"Having that support from her really meant a lot. I'm really excited to be bringing breast cancer awareness to the WNBL with the McGrath Foundation."
Mangakahia was diagnosed midway through 2019 while playing college basketball at Syracuse.
The journey back to top level hoops has been difficult, but Mangakahia is still hopeful of fulfilling her basketball dreams.
"After I was diagnosed, I came back to play my senior year of college and I wasn't the player I was prior," Mangakahia said.
"It made me question if I wanted to continue playing. I knew it would be a lot of hard work to get back to the way I was.
"But this year has shown me I can get back to where I was and it's helped me believe in myself a little bit more just because of the way I'm performing now.
"I want to play for the Opals at the Olympics and I just made the Australian squad so I'm looking forward to that and I'd love to play in the WNBA.
"It's the same goals that I had before I was diagnosed, I just had to continue to believe in myself and tell myself I could do that and it was hard when I had my diagnosis."
It's been a difficult season for the Flames — they're currently second-last on the ladder with a 4-11 record.
Coach Shane Heal and rising guard Shyla Heal have missed the past few matches as the father-daughter duo face a club investigation.
However, Mangakahia says the Flames can band together and weather the storm.
"As a team, we're really tight-knit, and we stick together, and this group of girls is amazing. Moving forward, we just have to stay together and stay positive and keep pushing forward," Mangakahia said.
"That's all you can keep doing in a season where you might not be winning much."