Feeling the rough grip of the bright, orange basketball between her small hands, two-year-old Mariah McCully was introduced to the sport that would change her life forever.
McCully grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where both of her parents influenced her love for basketball.
“Both my parents played basketball, so it’s always just been a family tradition,” McCully said.
Growing up with basketball was one thing, but McCully’s outside life brought it’s fair share of struggles. Playing basketball became her outlet.
“Basketball kept me off the streets in my hometown,” McCully said. “During high school, it was common for my classmates to get pregnant, go into the drug business, or be affiliated with gangs.