It’s March Madness! The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments are annual post-season tournaments that shine the spotlight on the most impressive college basketball stars across the country. Here, btw takes a closer look at several remarkable female Division I basketball players from Africa. These athletes have overcome numerous obstacles to follow their dreams and are now inspiring girls and women across the globe.
Sira Thienou
Thienou, the 6 foot, 1 inch superstar guard from the University of Mississippi, was born in Bamako, Mali. She developed an interest in basketball early but never considered that her talent would eventually lead her to play in the United States.
In Mali, Thienou played on the national team, and spent two years at the Women’s NBA program in Senegal, West Africa. The program helped her connect with the Shining Star Sports Academy in Petersburg, Virginia. No one in Thienou’s family had ever been to the U.S. before, so it was a big challenge. Thienou has said that, because she grew up playing basketball outside, the thing she was most interested in about the U.S. was what indoor basketball courts would look like.
While a student at Shining Star, Thienou returned home to represent her country in the 2023 FIBA U19 (under 19) Women’s Basketball World Cup. She scored fifteen points in six out of seven games and led Mali to a fifth-place finish. Her performance against the U.S.A. team drew the attention of U.S. recruiters and coaches, and she began to get offers from U.S. colleges. She connected with Coach McPhee-McCuin at Mississippi, and the rest is history.
While at the University of Mississippi (commonly called Ole Miss), Thienou was named SEC Freshman of the Year twice. She has the highest number of steals at Ole Miss since 2006. On February 17, 2026, she was injured with a bone bruise in a game against Tennessee but returned on March 15 in time for the NCAA Tournament. She led her team in scoring with 18 points against Minnesota in the second round. She has also started a foundation to give back by providing shoes and jerseys for young players in her home country.
L’or Mputu
The 6 foot, 2 inch forward from South Florida University was born in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A senior, she was named American Athletic Conference player of the week on February 3, 2026. But her journey to where she is today was not easy. Mputu left home at fifteen to pursue her dreams of becoming a basketball player. She arrived in the state of Washington in 2017, then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to play for Greenforest Christian Academy. There she earned All-Regional Team honors three times. She began her college career playing in the junior college division at Eastern Florida State College. Her outstanding performance there led her to receive an All-Central Conference Player of the Year award. Eventually, Mputu transferred to South Florida to play Division I. Part of her reason for choosing South Florida, she says, is because of the team’s international makeup. (Ten athletes on the team besides Mputo were born outside of the U.S.).
As a junior, Mputu didn’t see much playing time. But in her senior year she has become a dominant force on the court. She leads the team in field goal percentage. She also leads the team in blocks and is second in rebounds. However, Mputu still struggles with missing her family, whom she hasn’t seen in eight years.
Jana Sallman
Hailing originally from Cairo, Egypt, Jana Sallman is a 6 foot, 3 inch senior at the College of William & Mary. Sallman, who prefers to go by the first name Tika, has an impressive biography. Sallman played high school basketball at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. She began her college career at the University of Memphis and then transferred to William & Mary her sophomore year. There, Sallman was named CAA Player of the Week in 2024 and in 2025. she played with the Egyptian National Team in the FIBA U16 and U18 Women’s African Championships in 2021 and 2023. She also played in the FIBA U17 and U19 World Cup in 2022 and 2023. At William & Mary, she led her team to its first-ever CAA title last year. Thanks largely to her, this is the school’s first time in the NCAA tournament.
Transitioning from Egyptian-style basketball to American style was a challenge for Sallman. She says that the pacing and methods are different in the United States than they were in Egypt. As a practicing Muslim, the spring Ramadan fasting season presents another unique challenge. Sallman credits the unwavering support of her teammates with her success at overcoming these hurdles.