Tiana Mangakahia, a former Syracuse star who played professional basketball in Russia, France and her home country of Australia, has died after a long battle with cancer, her family announced Friday. She was 30.

“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beautiful Tiana Mangakahia,” her family wrote on her social media account . “She left us on (Thursday), 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.”

Mangakahia was diagnosed in June 2019 and went through eight rounds of chemotherapy and two operations. She put her WNBA ambitions on hold in April of that year and chose to return to Syracuse for h

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