Basketball wasn’t Laeticia Amihere’s authentic recreation plan, however she was too good to not turn out to be a champion
“In 2017, she went viral as the primary Canadian lady ever to dunk throughout gameplay at an Novice Athletic Union event.” ({Photograph} by Brinson and Banks; Hair and Make-up by Kimberly Acevedo)
When Laeticia Amihere was a child, full strangers would cease her on the road to ask if she performed basketball. The rationale was apparent: she hit a wholesome five-foot-seven earlier than she hit Grade 6. In actuality, Amihere most popular soccer and observe, and when her older brothers shot hoops, she was relegated to water lady. But by 11, she was donning a Mississauga Monarchs jersey in her native home league. “I believe I began enjoying simply so I wouldn’t must have these conversations with strangers anymore,” she says.
Amihere’s ability was evident instantly. She was fairly able to charging the web, and her peak made her a pure defender, that means she may simply guard all 5 positions. Inside 4 years, Amihere was enjoying provincial-level ball and, in 2017, she went viral as the primary Canadian lady ever to dunk throughout gameplay at an Novice Athletic Union event. When Canada’s nationwide group got here calling, she was solely 15.
Nearing commencement, Amihere had racked up 54 presents from schools and universities throughout North America. She finally selected to attend the College of South Carolina for the prospect to play for Gamecocks head coach Daybreak Staley—a five-time WNBA all-star. At USC, Amihere had some massive wins: she and 4 of her teammates have been often known as “The Freshies,” an uber-talented five-pack who, collectively, solely misplaced 9 video games in 4 years. Staley has mentioned Amihere is probably the most decided participant she’s ever coached, a high quality that helped Amihere persevere when the losses inevitably set in: two ACL tears nearly benched her for good, and her oldest brother, Kofi, died instantly final August.
Grieving her basketball-loving brother solely additional pushed Amihere to turn out to be one of many recreation’s strongest gamers. This spring, she was chosen eighth total by the Atlanta Dream within the WNBA draft, kissing a photograph of Kofi earlier than she took the stage. Off court docket, Amihere, now 21, is working to make sure that the following era of towering tweens received’t want the enter of complete strangers to appreciate their potential. (If you happen to’re curious, Amihere’s present peak is six-foot-three, three inches above the WNBA’s common.) Final yr, she based Again to the Motherland, a not-for-profit that brings basketball to underserved communities in West Africa, the place Amihere’s mother and father are from. She additionally signed her first massive sponsorship with Underneath Armour in Might. There’s buzz surrounding the potential creation of Canada’s first WNBA group in Toronto. If the time comes for her to play on residence soil once more, she definitely received’t be on water obligation.
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P O P Q U I Z W I T H L A E T I C I A
Favorite sports activities flick: The Recreation Plan. “I used to be completely obsessive about Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson after I was rising up.”
First live performance: Maverick Metropolis Music, an American worship band
Most overused phrase: “I believe it might in all probability be censored”
Can’t-lose object: Her telephone—and the ten,000 photographs it shops
Profession objective: “I’m pursuing a grasp’s in sports activities administration. Teaching is a risk.”
