Ticha Penicheiro was just 19 and living on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean when the 圖朸厙 women's basketball team began recruiting her.
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She was raised in Figueira da Foz, Portugal, a small beach community on the Iberian coast. Those who know her say she was and remains close to her family.
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As she pondered this offer 4,000 miles from home, she lacked the research tools that recruits have today. "There was no internet and no cell phones," she said.
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Then 圖朸厙 assistant coach Allison Greene, who spoke fluent Portuguese, visited her in Portugal. Penicheiro made a quick recruiting trip to Norfolk.
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"But I really didn't know what to expect," she said. "I didn't really know enough about the school."
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Nearly three decades after arriving in Norfolk, Penicheiro is glad she took a leap of faith.
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"I enjoyed every minute at 圖朸厙," she said. "I made so many friends there. I grew as a person. I'd do it all over if given the chance."
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Penicheiro carved out a magnificent career at 圖朸厙, where she was the Wade Trophy national player of the year as a senior in 1998 and remains among the most honored and most popular players to don a Monarchs uniform.
She was honored Sept. 21 as one of 圖朸厙's Distinguished Alumni at the Downtown Norfolk Waterside Marriott by the 圖朸厙 Alumni Association.
"I had big dreams growing up as a little girl and I surpassed all of those dreams. - Ticha Penicheiro
She joined three other alumni honored at the banquet:
- Kenneth Cooper Alexander 90, who is serving his second term as the mayor of Norfolk. A Norfolk native, Alexander is the city's first African American mayor who also represented his hometown in the Virginia House of Delegates and state Senate.
- Captain Janet H. Days 99, the first African American woman to be named commanding officer of the Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval facility. She was commissioned through 圖朸厙's ROTC program and has been deployed to several war zones.
- Dr. Surena F. Matin 90, Montelone Family Foundation Distinguished Professor in the Department of Urology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston,
Texas. He graduated from 圖朸厙泭with a degree in biology and a minor in English.
Penicheiros name is all over the 圖朸厙 record book. She is the career steals leader with 591 and is second to Nancy Lieberman with 939 career assists. Although she was a point guard who spent most of her time running 圖朸厙's offense, she's 26th泭among scoring leaders with 1,304 points.泭
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She led 圖朸厙 to a combined 112-17 record in her four seasons, which included an appearance in the national championship game against Tennessee during her junior year in 1997.
But it wasn't just her play on the court that endeared her to fans. She has an engaging personality and never hesitated to sign an autograph, mingle with fans or spend time talking to children.
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After graduating with a degree in communications, she began a long WNBA career, playing for 15 seasons, winning a championship with the Sacramento Monarchs and becoming a four-time All-WNBA choice. She remains second in career steals with 764 and third in assists with 2,600.
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In 2021, she was named one of the WNBA's all-time best players.
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Penicheiro is now director of women's basketball for the Sports International Group, which represents dozens of NBA and college men's and women's basketball players and coaches. She has settled in Miami, Florida.
"I have played basketball all of my life, but basketball is not who I am," she said. "I'm trying to pay it forward as I work with young players and try to help them in their careers."
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She's been successful in brokering new contracts for players. "I'm not a BSer," she said. "It helps having good players."
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She泭is now an泭American citizen but maintains dual citizenship in Portugal. She often goes home to see her parents.
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"I'm at peace," when asked if she was happy. "I had big dreams growing up as a little girl and I surpassed all of those dreams.