Troy University’s women’s basketball program has become a recognizable conduit for players who want to turn a college scholarship into a professional career abroad.
Head coach Chanda Rigby has built a reputation for connecting talent with overseas leagues, attracting recruits from Europe, Africa and the Americas while also drawing U.S. prospects who see the program as a proven pathway to international contracts.
A Global Pipeline
Rigby’s staff emphasizes long‑term athlete health, designing workouts that preserve bodies for the rigors of foreign schedules that often include a single game per week and extended training blocks.
Ashley Beverly Kelley, the first Trojan to sign a professional contract, has played in Israel, France and Russia, and she now shares her experience with current players through regular Zoom sessions that cover everything from contract negotiation to cultural adjustment.
She stresses the importance of learning local customs, trying regional cuisine and picking up basic language phrases, advice that helps newcomers integrate quickly into fan bases that often express themselves with drums, chants and homemade instruments.
Health and Longevity
The program’s medical team works with players to monitor workload, incorporate recovery protocols and avoid unnecessary physical strain, a strategy that has kept former Trojans on rosters for multiple seasons across Europe, Africa and Asia.
Support also comes from the university’s leadership; Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. has allocated resources, including funding for overseas trips through the license‑plate program, to give players exposure to international scouting environments.
Future Stars on the Horizon
Tai'Sheka Porchia, a 2024 graduate, is set to begin a stint in France this September after stints in Poland, Australia and Romania, joining a growing list of alumni such as Tina Stephens, Japonica James and Alexus Dye who have competed professionally in diverse continents.
The combination of rigorous preparation, cultural openness and institutional backing positions Troy’s women’s basketball program as a model for colleges seeking to launch global careers, a narrative that continues to attract attention from agents, sponsors and media outlets worldwide.