VALERIE NAINIMA CHANGES COLLEGES

Transfering so late in the year, Val will become a red shirt for this year, meaning that she will not be able to play or travel with the team, but she is still able to practice.

Val's decision was made on two levels.  First the USC team is coached by her long time idol and former USA point guard, Dawn Staley, and secondly USC plays in the SEC conference, the best in America.  Here she will gain exposure of the attention of the many talent scouts from WNBA clubs and other national clubs who get to see more games in the better standard conferences.

In addition to Coach Staley, Val will also have the assistance of two former USA national players who are assistant coaches at USC.  Coach Staley is also an assistant coach to the USA Women's Team for the Beijing Olympics.

Everyone who knows Val will understand that she is disappointed in not be able to play (something she just lives for) but in true Val spirit she says "to be completely honest I am sad but I just believe this is God's way of preparing me by allowing me to work on things that I couldn't work on had I been playing.  My main focus this year is to continue to be a student of the game and absorb as much as I can and to also help my teammates out by practising my hardest and pushing them and myself towards our true potentials."

Fortunately for Val she will still get to play two more years after this year of standing out. 

She tells us that South Carolina is hot like Fiji, so she should be right at home there.  Val is already looking forward to playing for Fiji in next year's Oceania Tournament.




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