Ariana Moorer started playing basketball when she was just three years old. For this Woodbridge, Virginia native, the opportunity to compete against and play alongside older kids at her local Boys & Girls Club quickly sparked her interest in the game growing up. She was fascinated by the sport. Its unique culture. Its competitive nature. Its ability to bring people together and foster incredible friendships. She was captivated by it all. As she continued her journey playing basketball, Ariana began her collegiate career at the University of Virginia. During her time there, she elevated her game on the floor further and reinforced her desire to play the game professionally upon graduation. Little did she know, but she would do just that. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Ariana officially embarked on her professional basketball career. She hasn’t looked back since. From Iceland to Australia to Puerto Rico to Spain, Ariana has played in an array of overseas countries and has continued to leave her mark on the game. In 2017, she won the Icelandic championship and Icelandic Cup while earning several personal honors—including the Foreign Player of the Year, Playoffs MVP, and Finals MVP awards. It doesn’t stop there. In addition to this, Ariana has also made an impact off the court through her ventures in skills training and player development. Determined to give back to the game and help others reach their highest potential, Ariana is looking forward to diving into the world of coaching after her professional athletic career. Incredible!
Take us through your journey early on at the University of Virginia. Could you share more with us about your time playing in college?
The University of Virginia was just a great experience. You know, when you first get there, you don't really know what to expect. Nothing really prepares you for what you are getting yourself into, but I had great teammates. Monica Wright—who is a huge name in the basketball world—has taken me under her wing since I was in middle school. We grew up together, and I'm still under her wing today. She was just a great teammate, a great leader, and I learned so much from her (throughout) my two years with her at Virginia. She just really pushed me out of my comfort zone, which I never had really done before, so she's a big reason why I even chose Virginia in the first place.
Reflecting back on those early years in college, what were some challenges that you faced and how did you work to overcome them?
The first thing I would say was just balancing everything. You have preseason which is really tough—and you don't know what that's like until you’re actually going through it. You have to stay on top of your schoolwork which is also important to (ensure) you’re maintaining a GPA that (allows you to) still be eligible for the next semester. Just with the travel, getting home late at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. and then having to go to an 8 a.m. class or 9 a.m. class the next morning, it was all a struggle and definitely an adjustment my first year. But as you get older and work through the years, you learn to take some time for yourself, write down what you have going on, and have a set schedule that you follow. It just got easier once I did that.
How do you think your game elevated throughout your time at the University of Virginia to prepare you for the next level?
Early on during my first year, the point guard who was there got injured and she was out for the rest of the season. So my first year, I started. I kind of just got thrown into the fire and that was scary at first, but I had very encouraging teammates and coaches who believed in me. That helped me with my confidence and with believing in myself, and really push-started me for the rest of the three years. It also prepared me for whatever was going to come overseas. I knew that if I could start as a first year at the University of Virginia, I could play anywhere.
As you made that transition from college into the world of professional basketball, what were some challenges that you faced early on?