Basketball: Who is Cierra Janay Dillard, the American Senegal want to naturalise?
Cierra Janay Dillard is the latest addition to Senegal's women's team. The 27-year-old is among 19 Lionnes in the preliminary squad.
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Cierra Janay Dillard is not the 1st player to be naturalised by Senegal. In 2015, Ramata Daou, a frontcourt player of Malian origin, took up Senegalese sporting nationality. She won the Afrobasket that same year with the Lionnes in Yaoundé. Eight years on, Senegal are about to secure the services of an American. It is a first in the history of the women's national team.
The link between the player and the Lionnes' coaching staff was made during the African women's club championships, held in December 2022 in Maputo (Mozambique). Cierra Janay Dillard was playing for Sporting Club d’Alexandrie, who had beaten Ville de Dakar (66-50) in the group phase.
In Maputo as technical director of Ville de Dakar, the Lionnes' head coach, Moustapha Gaye, made contact. He immediately brought in the adviser to the Federation president and former Memphis player, Makhtar Ndiaye. That set the wheels in motion. The process is following its normal course and the Federation has already submitted the naturalisation application. This will allow the player to hold a Senegalese passport before she becomes eligible.
Cierra Janay Dillard, an attacking asset…
Cierra Janay Dillard plays as a number 1 (point guard). She can also play as a guard, given her build and low centre of gravity. The American defends hard and contributes offensively. Dillard was averaging 21 points per game at the African women's club championships.
Moustapha Gaye's recruit began her professional career in 2019. Cierra Janay Dillard was selected by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2nd round of the WNBA draft. Cut by the franchise, she joined the Los Angeles Sparks, where she played in one preseason game. She was not retained by the Los Angeles Sparks.
The point guard contributed to Sporting Club d’Alexandrie's title win at the African women's club championships. She has joined Al Ittihad of Alexandria and will be in the Senegal squad in a few days for the Afrobasket preparation camp, which starts next Monday. However, she will have to fight for her place, with Lena Timera, another dual national, in the same position. And the coach will have to choose between the two players.
Victor BAGAYOKO