{"id":211304,"date":"2025-10-09T08:50:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T08:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/211304\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T08:50:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T08:50:17","slug":"phoenix-mercurys-monique-akoa-makani-derives-pride-purpose-from-african-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/211304\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Mercury’s Monique Akoa Makani derives pride, purpose from African roots"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani<\/a> still remembers the culture shock.<\/p>\n

Then 9 years old, Akoa Makani had recently moved to the Les Bleus neighborhood of Lyon, France, after her family had emigrated from her native Cameroon, a country in central Africa.<\/p>\n

Coming from Cameroon, Akoa Makani spoke French, but growing up she had been placed in an English learning school. She would have to retake a French class at a level she had already passed in Cameroon. To do so, she would take the course with kids younger than her. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was kind of painful for me because as a child, I\u2019ve always considered myself as smart,\u201d Akoa Makani said. \u201cYou feel like, \u2018Oh, I shouldn\u2019t be here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani also spoke French with a noticeable African accent. Already feeling distant from her classmates, her goal of assimilating felt a step further. <\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody would make comments about it,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani struggled with the speed at which her classmates spoke the language. It got to a point where Akoa Makani elected to rarely speak, afraid of people judging her.<\/p>\n

As she adjusted to her new life in France, Akoa Makani found refuge in sport \u2013\u00a0first soccer, then later basketball. She used the sport as an escape. It was her \u201ccomfort place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBasketball was almost everything at some point in my life when I was younger,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"MoniquePhoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (from left) drives to the basket against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 3, 2025, at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Stephen Gosling \/ NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani\u2019s journey in basketball has led her to one of the sport\u2019s biggest stages where, as a 24-year-old rookie standout, she is making her mark on a franchise aiming to win its first championship since 2014<\/a>. In doing so, she\u2019s also bringing visibility to a growing presence of African-born players in the WNBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the Mercury trailing the Las Vegas Aces 2-0 in the WNBA Finals, Akoa Makani\u2019s production will be a key complementary component to any Phoenix turnaround in the series, which resumes with Game 3 on Wednesday (ESPN, 8 p.m., ET).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not easy to come into the W and make an impact, be in the Finals and be a huge part of that,\u201d Phoenix guard Kahleah Copper<\/a> said. \u201cHer ceiling is high.\u201d<\/p>\n

With several minutes left during halftime of Game 2 of the Finals, Akoa Makani emerged from the Mercury tunnel with a sense of urgency. In the first half, she had missed a pair of open shots that had visibly frustrated her. As fans filed back into their seats, Akoa Makani took the floor alone, recruiting the help of a ball boy as she tried to course correct her form from the game\u2019s start.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘She’ll do whatever it takes’: Alyssa Thomas’ competitive fire drives championship quest \u2013 AndscapeRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite being in the Finals in her first season, Akoa Makani is dead set on not taking this moment for granted. She\u2019s reminded of the rarity of the opportunity in conversations with veteran teammates like Phoenix forward DeWanna Bonner<\/a>, who is making her fourth<\/a> Finals appearance in 16 seasons<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me think, \u2018OK, Mo, you\u2019re very lucky to have this,\u2019\u201d Akoa Makani said. \u201cIt just reminds me how humble and grounded I should continue to be, being present and really living this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani was born in Ed\u00e9a<\/a>, a small city in the southwestern portion of Cameroon where everybody knows everybody. She comes from a large extended family where just on her father\u2019s side she had 11 aunts and uncles and many cousins. <\/p>\n

Akoa Makani described her early childhood as simple and easy, growing up in what she initially described financially as a modest household.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could call that a poor family, honestly,\u201d Akoa Makani said. \u201cI would not say that we had a lot. But when I was a kid, that was never a problem for me because when you\u2019re in an environment where you\u2019re used to not having a lot, it\u2019s just normal to you. I was very happy growing up as a child.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani hasn\u2019t been able to return to Cameroon since her family left. When she was growing up, they didn\u2019t have the monetary means to visit. Akoa Makani had planned to return this past summer with her parents, but then came the WNBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to complain about that,\u201d Akoa Makani said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"MoniquePhoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (center) pulls up for a shot in front of Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd during Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 5, 2025.<\/p>\n

Stephen Gosling \/ NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani\u2019s connection to her home country, and her desire to return, has grown through her involvement with the Cameroonian national team. She first competed<\/a> with the national team in 2023 for AfroBasket (the FIBA African championship) and in 2025 for AfroBasket qualifiers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Cameroon, soccer is undoubtedly the most popular sport. That\u2019s in large part, Akoa Makani said, due to its accessibility. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou just create a goal with, like, two rocks and then you just play with a ball that you can make up of T-shirts sometimes, too,\u201d Akoa Makani said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani excelled at soccer before she ever picked up a basketball, first playing in Cameroon with her siblings before continuing in France. When she was 12, a coach saw her playing at a local park in Les Buers and invited her to try out for the training academy of pro club Olympique Lyonnais<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani, though, declined the offer. She wanted to pursue something new. A few years earlier, Akoa Makani had been introduced to basketball in school and had gravitated to the sport. After playing for a local club, Akoa Makani began training under FC Lyon ASVEL F\u00e9minin<\/a>. By age 15, Akoa Makani knew she wanted to become a pro. <\/p>\n

The history of Cameroonian players in the WNBA is brief<\/a>. Lucienne Berthieu<\/a> played for the Cleveland Rockers and Houston Comets from 2002-04. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu<\/a> played 41<\/a> games for the Seattle Storm between 2023 and 2024. Dominique Malonga<\/a>, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2025 WNBA draft, also was born in Cameroon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"MoniqueMonique Akoa Makani (left) of the Phoenix Mercury and Dominique Malonga (right) of the Seattle Storm hug after a game on June 7, 2025, at PHX Arena in Phoenix. <\/p>\n

Kate Frese \/ NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani is the first player from Cameroon to play in the WNBA Finals. She hopes her visibility will encourage the next generation of Cameroonian players to chase their own basketball dreams.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very proud of being a Cameroonian. I owe everything to where I come from because I don\u2019t think I would have had the same mindset if I wasn\u2019t born there,\u201d she said. \u201cThat just gives me the desire to inspire other young Africans that have dreams. It only takes one person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani arrived at Mercury training camp in late April toting low, if any, expectations about making the Phoenix roster. She had just come off her best professional season<\/a> of her career playing for Charnay Basket<\/a> in France. Akoa Makani was named to the starting five of the La Boulang\u00e8re Wonderligue<\/a>, the top league in France, alongside players like Malonga and Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lac\u00e1n<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She had viewed the experience as a chance to establish her name in the league\u2019s ecosystem and, maybe in a year or two, she would make a team. But after going through the motions of her first practice, Akoa Makani saw an opportunity to hasten her timeline. She learned she could stand out among the crowded camp by leaning on her athleticism and court IQ.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018You can really do this,\u2019\u201d Akoa Makani thought to herself. \u201cI definitely felt like if I keep just giving what I know [is the] best of me, it should be a good experience. \u2026 I showed myself as who I really was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not only would she make the team, she would become a crucial component to Phoenix\u2019s winning formula. When Akoa Makani, who started in 40 of the 41<\/a> regular-season games she played in, was out due to concussion protocol<\/a>, Mercury forward Satou Sabally<\/a> noted the void on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cMo is super important to us defensively, offensively. I think that it shows how much we need her,\u201d Sabally said after a July 23 loss<\/a> to the Atlanta Dream. \u201cShe\u2019s definitely a missing piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier’s remarks make it clear: The gloves are off \u2013 AndscapeRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

This season has pushed Akoa Makani to her limit both physically and mentally. She had to acclimate to the physicality of the WNBA while also adjusting to the frequency of games played per week compared with the schedule in France. Akoa Makani has played in 50 games since the WNBA season began in May. She played in 31 games<\/a>, between her French season and Eurocup play, from Sept 2024 to April 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour body just runs out of gas and you\u2019ve got to push your limits mentally to be able to, day by day, go take that little amount of juice that you have left,\u201d Akoa Makani said.<\/p>\n

She considers herself a social person with a close circle back home in France that she said recharges her and maintains her sense of stability. The distance, combined with the nine-hour time difference from Phoenix, has made that challenging. For Akoa Makani, just having to speak in English 24\/7 has been a somewhat exhausting experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani also had to adjust \u2013 and accept \u2013 her role with the Mercury after being a top option in France. With All-Stars and veterans like Alyssa Thomas, Sabally and Copper flanking her in the starting five, Akoa Makani didn\u2019t need to offensively produce like she had become accustomed to doing. Instead of having screens set for her, Akoa Makani had to learn to set inverted screens on bigs like A\u2019ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier to free up Thomas. She was asked to aggressively defend and be a long-range threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like now I\u2019m coming into a team where people are better than me,\u201d Akoa Makani said. \u201cIt was pretty humbling to me to be like, \u2018OK, your time is going to come as long as you\u2019re humble enough to be able to take everything that those vets will be able to give you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MoniqueDeWanna Bonner (from left) of the Phoenix Mercury smiles at teammate Monique Akoa Makani during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 3, 2025 in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Brandon Todd \/ NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Those vets have been ever impressed with the rookie. Bonner said it still surprises her that this is Akoa Makani\u2019s first year in the WNBA.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe keeps getting better and better, the moments keep getting bigger and bigger, and she\u2019s handling them very well for a first-year player,\u201d Bonner said of Akoa Makani, who is averaging<\/a> 10 points, five assists and 1.5 rebounds through the first two games of the Finals. \u201cWe have the ultimate respect and faith in Mo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Energy and a defensive grit are always top of mind for Akoa Makani when she\u2019s on the floor for the Mercury. As the defender who is often the first line of defense in the half court, Akoa Makani knows her effort sets the tone for her teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they see me going hard and being able to put the other opponent in trouble, that\u2019s only going to give them extra energy to want to do the same,\u201d Akoa Makani said. \u201cI take a lot of pride in that. It\u2019s my way of being able to impact the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani ended the regular season averaging<\/a> 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. During the regular season, she shot a team-high 39.8%<\/a> from 3-point range. <\/p>\n

The Mercury were +163 when Akoa Makani was on the court this season, the second-best plus-minus among rookies, according to ESPN Stats and Information. <\/p>\n

Dear WNBA, these Black female coaches should be top candidates for your open jobs \u2013 AndscapeRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

Mercury associate head coach Kristi Toliver<\/a> has enjoyed observing Akoa Makani\u2019s evolution over the course of the season. That growth, according to Toliver, has peaked in the playoffs. Toliver pointed to a recent practice in which a small interaction from Akoa Makani signaled a larger sign of development.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just her [standing] at the nail [center of free-throw line] and, you know, empty side. And she yelled \u2018empty,\u2019 just a term we use, with a force in her,\u201d Toliver said. \u201cNate [Tibbetts] and I looked at each other like we were proud fathers and mothers of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

A month or two ago, Akoa Makani would have remained quiet during the action. To Toliver, the rookie had found her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an awareness thing, it was her using her voice and the power of her voice,\u201d Toliver said. \u201cThat means that she knows and trusts and believes that. That was the proof in the pudding for us of, \u2018Oh, she\u2019s arrived.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Given her contributions to the Mercury\u2019s success this season, it came as a surprise to some when Akoa Makani was left off the five-person WNBA All-Rookie Team<\/a> announced late last month. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so many good players in this league and someone\u2019s always left out,\u201d Toliver said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that I would assume she\u2019s even thinking about an individual achievement, but the team achievement. If she comes back with the championship, that\u2019s her validation. That\u2019s her achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MoniqueMonique Akoa Makani (right) shoots over Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans (left) during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 3, 2025, in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Ian Maule \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

A few years ago, Akoa Makani thought she had her whole basketball career planned. She had set goals and mapped out her trajectory thinking milestones would be achieved on her timing. One of those goals was to play in EuroLeague, which she\u2019ll do for Tango Bourges Basket<\/a> in France at the conclusion of this WNBA season. The other, of course, was to play in the WNBA, which has come ahead of schedule. <\/p>\n

Akoa Makani\u2019s experience this season in the U.S. has taught her that while goals are good to set, it\u2019s the journey that is most important. As long as she stays present in that journey, those breakthroughs will come in due time \u2013 sometimes ahead of time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of a sudden, one day, some of what you\u2019ve prayed for and planned for is gonna happen,\u201d Akoa Makani said. \u201cWalk through the journey and try to better yourself individually as a person and as an athlete and, yeah, things are going to come to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean Hurd is a senior writer for Andscape who primarily covers women\u2019s basketball. His athletic peak came at the age of 10 when he was named camper of the week at a Josh Childress basketball camp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani still remembers the culture shock. Then 9 years old, Akoa Makani had…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":211305,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[99,434],"class_list":["post-211304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}