VYPE: What goals do you have for this year in basketball?
Taiona: My goals for this year’s 2023-24 season is not only to grow as an athlete but also a person. Develop another level of my game that I have yet to unlock and be confident about every decision I make not only on the court but also off the court.

VYPE: What has basketball taught you that you use in your daily life?
Taiona: When you feel that things are getting hard and the success of your greater accomplishments are running away from you. Never give up because God always has greater things waiting for you ahead & he’s always listening to you!

VYPE: What’s your favorite style of shoes to wear in the game?
Taiona: PG5 & Sabrina 1.

VYPE: Who inspires you and why?
Taiona: My family inspires me. There has been many of times where I’ve felt like I wasn’t good enough to continue on the journey that I am on today, but they’ve helped me get through it all tremendously, whether they told me what I wanted to hear or not, it made a big impact on me and helped me develop the wonderful and amazing person I am today.

VYPE: What do you think is the biggest challenge in basketball?
Taiona: Balancing the mental with the physical is one of the most challenging things that the sport comes with and not allowing the bad days affect your effort on the court so that you are able to produce.

VYPE: What do you think makes a great basketball player?
Taiona: Being able to be coachable/criticized without it affecting your game, the ability to adjust to new things, and benefit not only yourself but the team when things that you normally provide aren’t working.

VYPE: Who in your family is the best athlete? Explain.
Taiona: Most people would say themselves, but I will be honest and say my sister because even when she had hard times she always gave 110% and put all the angry and sad days she had into her game, which made her develop a greater version of herself and that helped her get to where she is today!

VYPE: What’s one sport you wish you could play that you don’t already play?
Taiona: Volleyball or football. I think I would be really good at both due to me being very athletic and having the ability to pick up on things quickly.

VYPE: What’s your go-to pregame song?
Taiona: I don’t have a particular song, so anything on my “Daily Tunez” album.