Interview: Laeticia Amihere, Canadian Basketball Olympian and NCAA Champion

In this episode, Shireen Ahmed interviews Laeticia Amihere, a power forward and Canada's first female dunker, Team Canada Olympian and NCAA Champion with the South Carolina Gamecocks. They discuss how she came to love basketball, what it's like to play for the legendary Dawn Staley, her hopes for the WBNA Draft and her non-profit Back to the Motherland, where she puts on basketball camps to make the game more accessible.

This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network.

Transcript

Shireen: Hello, flamethrowers. Shireen here. I am so excited to have an amazing NCAA Div I champion, Laeticia Amihere, is a 20 year old Canadian born Olympian athlete of Ghanaian and Côte d'Ivoire descent. She is fully bilingual and will be dropping some French in here at some point. French is her first language. And the coaching community, she is someone that inspires many young female French Canadians aspiring to follow her footsteps. She's from Mississauga, Ontario, the best city in the world, and has been a member of the Canadian national team since she was 15, where she has also been heralded as the future face of Canadian women's basketball. Laeticia became the first Canadian woman to dunk in a competitive game in 2015 and is infamously known globally as the girl who dunks. I'm so excited to have her on the show with me. Tish, how are you?

Laeticia: Hey, I'm so excited to be here. Like you said, I’m Laeticia Amihere from South Carolina. Finally back in Canada after a couple years of COVID, but just excited to be on the show.

Shireen: How many years has it been since you've been back in Canada?

Laeticia: So, I come every Christmas for about two or three days. But this is the first time I've actually been here for, you know, longer than a few days. So just excited to actually spend time with my family and get into city and get time with my friends.

Shireen: So, tell me – you won a national championship with South Carolina.

Laeticia: So exciting! I feel like it's been just a long time coming. You know, our freshman class was highly touted and, and we were destined to make the championship the first year, but then obviously COVID hit. So, finally being able to get it after my third year, just so exciting.

Shireen: You literally can't do better than that in college ball. Like, that's incredible. It's amazing. Was your family cheering at home? Were they able to come down for the championship game?

Laeticia: My family actually was able to come, probably their second game out of my whole career, be able to be there and see my championship game. Super exciting. They're finally able to get on the court, take some pictures, and after it – just because of COVID and everything going on with the lockdown – just so excited to be there for my family and support them, and them being there to support me. 

Shireen: So, tell me a little bit about…Okay. So, I don’t know if I gave this away. I actually am from Mississauga also. So that's why I was hyping up Mississauga. [laughs] But tell me a little bit about growing up in Mississauga. Like, where did you play ball? 

Laeticia: Yeah, so, starting off, honestly, I kind of just played every sport. My family's from Ivory Coast and Ghana, like you said, so soccer is the main sport. I grew up playing soccer. And then obviously I was just freakishly tall. So everybody's like, do you play basketball? I'm like, I don't, but you know, maybe I should look into it. [Shireen laughs] So I started playing basketball, my brothers played basketball, and I was just, you know, I remember just watching them play basketball and then just being the water girl. And then I finally found interest in it. And then that's kind of where my dream started. And then I started playing for the Mississauga Monarchs. And then from there, you know, my career just spread out. 

Shireen: So, when you say you're freakishly tall, how tall is that? 

Laeticia: 6’3” at this moment, but I feel like I've been 6’3” for about six years, honestly. Like, I've just always been tall. My family's tall, so I've just always been tall and just lanky.

Shireen: So, being from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, like Ghana, you know, the Black Stars, Les Elephants are part of your blood. Like, football is a part of you. So, basketball – did you fall in love with it?

Laeticia: I did. It was just honestly kind of just because of people just keep nagging me. [Shireen laughs] “Do you play basketball? You look like you play basketball. Do you model? Do you play basketball?” So, just being able to kind of just be like, yeah, I do. You know what I mean? Like, it kind of just got tiring. And then I just started playing basketball and I fell in love with it just because I saw people that are my height and that looked like me. You know what I mean? Like, my whole life, I just felt like an outcast, just being able to just be tall and, you know, people just looked at me differently. But like when I play basketball, you know, we were all tall. We're all gifted. We're all really athletic. And it was just an environment where I felt comfortable.

Shireen: For sure. Do you model though? 

Laeticia: I do wanna start modeling actually. But you know, that's actually always been something…Because I was tall, but I was also very skinny. So I feel like that's where a lot of people saw modeling in my career. But you know, I just loved being an athlete. So the first question was always, did I play basketball?

Shireen: So, I will offer you the same thing that I told your teammates, Kayla and Kia. I told them that if they wanted to model, I could be your agent and I'll give you 30% and I'll take 70. And that's like a brown deal.

Laeticia: [laughter] Let’s go! Let’s go. 

Shireen: I mean, you do so many things. One of the things I wanted to talk to you about was also the work you do for your community. Like, you're super involved in community work, and not just in South Carolina but at home. Like, most 20 year olds are like doing their thing. Why is that important to you? Why is community building important to you?

Laeticia: I think it really started when I got injured, just having that time. Like, I've never had a time where I was off of basketball, you know what I mean? And just trying to figure out who I am, like, who is Laeticia outside of the basketball court? And then once I started just having that time to reflect, I'm like, I wanna have an impact on the communities. So you know, I started my nonprofit called Back to the Motherland/Retour au Pays Natal. And that really kind of stemmed from my own experience, you know, just being an athlete, just wanting to be out there and play sports professionally, but not having the financial situation, the financial stability to do that. So then I was given that opportunity because a couple people believed in me. And then it's kind of unfortunate because I would go to Ivory Coast, you know, every summer when I was younger, and I would go to these courts and, you know, just kind of showcasing and seeing that people don't have these opportunities, but there's so much raw talent. In Africa there's so much raw talent that’s not being exposed.

So that's kind of where I fit in. I feel like being able to showcase that…Because I feel like I was a raw talent, you know, if somebody sees me and they're like, wow, this is a raw talent that just needs the right system, the right people to help them get to the next level. So that's always just been my goal. You know, people like me are not rare, you know? They just don't have the exposure. They don't don't have the capacity to get to the next level. So that's why I started my foundation. And I'm super excited to just, you know…I have a couple projects coming up this summer, and I'm just super excited to get the ball rolling.

Shireen: And so your projects are specifically…They’re based over here, but you do a lot of your outreach work in Côte d’Ivoire?

Laeticia: Yeah. So, the first projects I have is in Côte d'Ivoire and I'm gonna be going the 11th of July to the 19th. And I'll be doing some camps, you know, I got some sponsors to help me fund and bring some gear out there. But like I said, all of it's really just about access, you know? I've done some stuff in South Carolina. Really what Back to the Motherland means is like sewing a seed in the community that helped raise you. So for me, it's not only Canada, it's not only South Carolina, it's not only Ivory Coast. Those are all these different places, you know as an athlete, you travel so much and you start to build a community in every city that you are in. So, I go to South Carolina, I build a community there. I go to Mississauga, I build a community there. So just kind of planting a seed in every community that I visit and that I reach is really my goal, because there is underserved and under-appreciated athletes everywhere that you go. So that's kind of where I fit in.

Shireen: I mean, I think that's amazing for you to have that cognizance beyond you, is really important. And in addition to that, you were on the SEC’s conference community service team, and you were one of the very few NCAA women's basketball student athlete advisory chairs, which is incredible. Can you tell me about that? Being on, you know, the entire college system for women's basketball, especially at a time where there's a lot of discussion. Like, you were in school when the NIL stuff switched over, right? So what was that process like for you? And like, how do you actually feel about that, like, being able to hopefully, you know, chase them bags?

Laeticia: Yeah, it's important. And I feel like, you know, as athletes, we have such a big platform, and it is being underutilized by a lot of people. I feel like where I fit in is being that voice. You know, I have an experience as an athlete, as a student athlete, as a national champion. But I also have an experience as an international student, right? So my experience is a little bit different from a lot of people that have been here. So, kind of giving that perspective. I went to Florida a couple weeks ago, just sitting on that Division I council and giving my experience. You know, my experience from my teammates is a lot different, you know, I'm international, so I'm not able to profit from the NIL deals that are going on. And what does that look like for us international students? And these people, for example, the ADs, the chancellors, the SWAs, those people need to understand that there's a different experience other than the athletes are able to profit off NIL. There’s a different experience from the international perspective. So, just being able to be in those discussions and giving my outlook, I think it's been so important.

It really just started from, you know, I first got to university and I was kind of thrown into the SAAC, which is called student athlete advisory committee. And I was kind of thrown into it because Coach Staley believed I was a leader, and you know, three years later, I've really honed into that role and taken that role very seriously. Because I feel like, for example, like last year, a couple years ago, we had that discussion about NCAA and the gyms and how that's been different from the men's and all those things from the NCAA's perspective. I feel like those things have been really important, and it's been highlighted because of social media. So that's kind of where I fit in with all my Back to the Motherland initiatives and everything that I've been doing, is really because exposure to that, because a lot of people don't know what's going on. And just being able to just give them that insight about what's going on, I think it's important for them to understand from my perspective.

Shireen: So, when you say a lot of people don't know what's going on, do you mean the actual athletes? The ones in college? They don't know?

Laeticia: Even the men, I feel like, a lot my friends on the men's side were super baffled because they're like, wow, this is what we're receiving on the men's side, and we're surprised that the woman's side is not getting that. So, I mean, it's been going on for decades, but now that we have social media, we're able to post it and we don't have fear of backlash, you know? I feel like a lot of people are starting to see it. 

Shireen: Yeah. I think that's really important that you become a person through whom can relay this information to your peers. Like, that's so important. And like, so when you say you're an international student, just to clarify that, you mean Canada.

Laeticia: Yeah. And it's crazy because it’s like, my teammates themselves, they don't know anything about Canada. They think it's just so foreign. I'm like, I'm a couple hours away! They'll be like, how long does it take you to get home? Like, I mean, from here, I'll take 30 minutes to Charlotte, and then from Charlotte it's an hour about an hour and a half. Like, it's really not that far, but to them, Canada is so foreign. My experiences are different, but in some instances it's really not that different. Like, I mean, I'm really not that far.

Shireen: So when you're in South Carolina, what food do you miss the most that you don't get in the United States that you have in Canada? 

Laeticia: Honestly, everything. [Shireen laughs] Because the thing about Canada is it’s so diverse. There's so many different ethnicities, there’s so many different backgrounds. And that's what I love about Canada. Like, I grew up going to high school, going to middle school, going to elementary school. I grew up having friends from, you know, just different parts of the country, different parts of the world. And going to South Carolina is kind of you lack that. So when I'm out here and I'm craving Indian food, I'm craving Asian food, I'm craving African food. Like, those are just normal cravings. But you know, in South Carolina and in the most part of America, it's just they're used to their customs or they're used to their food. So, I just kind of miss that broad ethnicity part of it, where like, I come to Canada and I'm like, I can have any type of food from any different type of place in the world.

Shireen: Okay. But let's just clarify for people who don't know that – I don't want them to come and think they come up to Saskatchewan and they can get like Caribbean food. [laughter] Let's be clear, you're from a place, I live in a place, where there is a lot of diversity. Not all of Canada is like that, like predominantly Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, big cities. We have that. But I don't want people out here thinking they go to like Nova Scotia and can get like, you know what I'm saying? But I totally hear you. It's one of the reasons I probably will never move in my life because of the food. So, before we started this, we were chatting a bit and I asked you about what your favorite food is, and you said it was APF, which is like cassava and fish and plantain. So, can you make it?

Laeticia: Oh yeah. I mean, at this point, being in the college for three years, I've learned to cook. I mean, I've always cooked, but like, I've learned to just be able to cook different types of foods because, you know, it's tough out there. I mean, the most I'll get, sometimes I'll get, you know, Caribbean food, sometimes I'll get Indian food. But in South Carolina, you know, if you wanna get ethnic food, you gotta cook it. [Shireen laughs] So I've learned to cook it, and just kind of appreciate that type of culture.

Shireen: Well, so that was my question. Do you like FaceTime your mom and you're like, maman, how do I do this? Is that what happens?

Laeticia: Oh yeah. Oh, for me, I always shadow my mom. So, I told you I started a nonprofit, but my mom actually has a nonprofit herself called People of the Motherland, and she…I don't know if you're familiar with Carassauga? 

Shireen: Oh yeah!

Laeticia: But Carassauga is a festival where there's a bunch of different countries, and she represents Africa, which is a huge continent to represent. But you know, those type of things are kind of what I grew up with. I have appreciation for every single culture, because I went to Carassauga, because I was in an environment where I was able to learn from different cultures. So I definitely have a big appreciation for that. And then Carassauga also helped me. I've learned to cook. I've learned to go to these different cooking shows and doing these type of things. And now that I'm in college, I'm able to do these different type of things because I was introduced to it at an early age. 

Shireen: I think Carassauga is actually happening right now. But they have food…For those that don't know, Carassauga is the play on Mississauga, the name of the city. And they have pavilions all over. Like I know for Egypt, the country, this beautiful Coptic church is actually hosting Egypt. And you can go and you can sample food and see like historical exhibits. It's actually really cool. So, that’s a reminder for me to go back and get some food, because for me, you know, honestly, I'm not gonna lie. I love the history, but I love the food. For me, it goes hand in hand. 

Laeticia: Absolutely. 

Shireen: And when you are home, you have my number now. You reach out to me, I make really good Pakistani food. So you can come over.

Laeticia: Let’s go! 

Shireen: Honestly, my butter chicken is unparalleled, I think. I really think it's very good. Now, let's talk about this tiny little detail about you being a potential WNBA draft for 2023. [laughs] A small thing. So, are you ready? Like, what are we doing? Are we waiting for the draft? Do you have your fit picked out? Is this what's happening?

Laeticia: The thing is, like, it's kind of been a moment where I've been anticipating it since I've been to South Carolina. So, kind of four years later, just being able to be in that moment. And it's like, the draft is coming up soon in a year. It’s amazing because it's something that I've been dreaming about since my childhood. And going to South Carolina, I mean, it's not a small thing. Like, you go to South Carolina because you wanna go to league, you wanna be able to be in the top contenders. So, I'm just super excited about, you know…Actually this year, winning a championship is one of the best moments of my life. So I'm excited to actually just win another championship and go through that season. And then, you know, the draft is gonna come, but I'm just excited to have this team this year.

Shireen: So, I've traditionally been a UConn fan, and you can blame Batouly and Kia for that. But I feel like I'm gonna switch over now to South Carolina! [laughs]

Laeticia: Yeah, come on! I mean, it’s just different. I love it, because college basketball has taken such a turn. Before it was just UConn, UConn, UConn, but now it's like so many different contenders, and it's like, you're going into a year and it's like, who's your competition? I remember I was having interviews, like, “Who's your biggest threat this year?” And I'm like, honestly, it could be anybody, because we have so many different talents, and you know, the SEC is one of the biggest, best leagues. So just being able to play against different teams that, you know, now the transfer rule is gone. And then there's just different teams that are stacking up. So, being able to play against all those different teams is very exciting. 

Shireen: Is there a moment where you…And I haven't even gotten to Coach Staley yet, because we on this show fangirl so hard. But have you been on the court and seen someone and been like, oh my god, star struck yourself?

Laeticia: Actually like the first time I was star struck was probably going to camp the first time and meeting Coach Staley. Like, just being able to see such a model. Like, she's amazing. And even at practice, just being able to play for one of the legendary point guards is just such a great experience. And you know, even at practice or even just like looking on social media, it's like, that's my coach, you know? Being able to have that experience. 

Shireen: Yeah. So let's talk a little bit about Coach Staley, because she just honestly seems like the most dignified boss to walk the earth. It's incredible. Is she really like that in person?

Laeticia: Yeah, she's great. I mean, a lot of people are intimidated about her, but like, honestly, she's just a great person. Obviously she gets on us, but like, just being able to be with a coach that has so much knowledge in the game and just being able to be with a coach that just knows everything, really. It's just amazing environment to be in. 

Shireen: So, South Carolina was your first school. So did they contact you? And when that phone call came, like, did it come from Coach Staley? 

Laeticia: Honestly, growing up, I didn't really know much about NCAA. I just played basketball and then kind of like figuring out, like going on my visits, and I found out who Coach Staley was, was actually amazing to just be like, wow, this is who I'm talking to. But honestly, like growing up, I really didn't know much about the WNBA and all those different type type of things.

Shireen: Oh, wow. So it was like a learning curve for you and your family as well. 

Laeticia: Yeah. 

Shireen: So, I mean, it must be so fun to be there. Like, you're part of history. 

Laeticia: Yeah, it is. I mean, everything she does is amazing. Like, even off the court, the philanthropy part that she does is really amazing.

Shireen: Who picks the playlist for your team when you warm up? Who has that responsibility?

Laeticia: Honestly, it's really the team. I don't know, like, we all really just get hype. The experience of just being with a team that's a number one team, we don't only get hype from the music, it’s just the environment that we in. I mean, we have the number one fan base, and they definitely hype on us for every game. 

Shireen: Do you get people asking you for your autographs as you walk around campus?

Laeticia: I do. And that's kind of like the best part of it.

Shireen: [laughs] Do you get asked for autographs in Canada? 

Laeticia: I actually have. I feel like part of it's because I'm just tall. [Shireen laughs] And being able to have, you know, people walking around. 

Shireen: That's awesome. And talk to me a little bit about Team Canada. Where do you see yourselves going? Because you're going to FIBA in the championships. How is that journey going? 

Laeticia: It's pretty cool. I mean, we got Australia coming up in August and I'm really excited about that. We've just been training over the summer for that. It's just, you know, it's kind of different because normally every summer I got something going on with Team Canada. But this year I've kind of just been training, and kind of looking forward to August. 

Shireen: That's amazing. You know, what do you see for yourself like after basketball? Do you see yourself as like, you know, continuing in your philanthropic, do you see yourself as a coach? Do you see yourself as an owner? Because we're seeing an increase of Black women, you know, owning part of WNBA teams. Where do you see your futures? Because when I come back to you in 20 years and ask for another interview, where do you think you’ll be? Where will you be? 

Laeticia: Well, kind of my plan right now is just building in my nonprofit organization. And I've been working with that for a year now, but it's launching with the efforts I'm doing in Africa this year, and at the end of the month in July. But that's kind of my goal, you know, I've kind of modeled Masai, you know, the GM of the Raptors, I've kind of modeled him and what he's been doing in the community. And that's kind of my goal, just to give back. I mean, I'm still playing basketball, but like even after I'm done playing basketball, just being able to give back to the community and do those type of things.

Shireen: That's amazing. So, just so our listeners know, where can we find Return to the Motherland? Where can we find Retour au Pays Natal? Where can we find that information? 

Laeticia: Well, I kind of started posting about it, but like, I've officially just kind of got that license from Canada and then Service Canada recently. So I'll be posting more information about it probably coming this week. I've got the logo and all those type of things. And I kind of talked to sponsors to kind of help me with my efforts. In a couple weeks I'll be going to Ivory Coast and be working with them, you know, having some camps over there and then, like I said, I'll have a camp at the end of July. But I'm gonna start posting more on Instagram, and kind of getting that attention from other people.

Shireen: Awesome. What's your Instagram handle so our listeners can follow you? I’m sure they do already, but just tell us, just in case.

Laeticia: My personal Instagram is @_theblackqueen. And then my nonprofit organization is called Back to the Motherland.

Shireen: Awesome. This is amazing. And thank you again so much for being on Burn It All Down. We are so thrilled. The insight that you're providing us, to give us, like, you know, sort of like an understanding of what happens, because one of the most important things is understanding that not every athlete's journey is exactly the same. You're doing so many things. And the fact that you also are representing Canada, so I do really appreciate you taking the time. And please say hi to your family. And I'm not kidding – when you're home and you're home for a while, give me a call and I will feed you. I would be so happy. [laughs]

Laeticia: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for this opportunity.

Shireen: And next time you see Coach Staley, can you please tell her that we at Burn It All Down love her and worship her.

Laeticia: All right. 

Shireen: Thanks so much, Tish. That's all for this episode of Burn It All Down. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Welden is our web social media wizard. Burn It All Down is a part of the Blue Wire podcast network. Follow Burn It All Down on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen, subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play and TuneIn. For show links and transcripts, check out our website, burnitalldownpod.com. You'll also find a link to our merch at our Bonfire store. And of course, thank you, thank you, thank you to our patrons. Your support means the world to us. And if you wanna become a sustaining donor to our show, visit patreon.com/burnitalldown. We could not do this without you. Burn on, and not out.