The cancer survivor not giving up on her WNBA dreams This young Aussie hoops star has taken on breast cancer and beaten it, now she has another fight ahead of her to reach her dreams of playing in the WNBA. Basketball by Brayden Heslehurst Premium Content Cancer survivor Tiana Mangakahia knew her path to the WNBA was going to be different. She was so dominant during her first two seasons at college, she even earned herself a spot in the Australian Opals squad at just 23-years-old. Tiana Mangakahia signing her training camp contract with WNBA team the Phoenix Mercury. However with the support of family, friends and basketball fans around the world - the disease proved no match for Mangakahia as she quickly overcame the illness and returned to the court for Syracuse.