Clarisse Machanguana

Clarisse Machanguana (born 4 October 1976) is a professional women's basketball player and philanthropist from Mozambique. She has played internationally in both the United States (WNBA from 1999 to 2002) and in Spain (FC Barcelona since 2003). She also represented Mozambique at the 2006 Lusophony Games in Macau, China. In 2014 founded the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation, which empowers Mozambiquan youth through sport, education and health.[1] Machanguana was the UNICEF ambassador to Mozambique from 2016 to 2018.

Clarisse Machanguana
Personal information
Born (1976-10-04) 4 October 1976
Mozambique
NationalityMozambican
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
CollegeOld Dominion (1994–1997)
WNBA draft1999: 2nd round, 16th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks
Playing career1999–2002
PositionCenter
Career history
1999–2000Los Angeles Sparks
2001Charlotte Sting
2002Orlando Miracle

Early life and college

Machanguana was born on October 4, 1976, in Mozambique. When she was 19, she moved to Portugal to attend preparatory school and play basketball.[2] She then followed her friend, Portuguese basketball player Ticha Penicheiro, to Old Dominion University.[3] In 1997, Machanguana and Penicheiro led the Lady Monarchs to the NCAA title game.[4]

Old Dominion University statistics

Source[5]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% FT% RPG APG BPG PPG
1994-95 Old Dominion University 33 550 60.5% 59.3% 8.8 1.8 0.8 16.7
1995-96 Old Dominion University 32 585 62.7% 71.4% 6.5 1.5 0.8 18.3
1996-97 Old Dominion University 34 678 63.6% 57.3% 7.4 1.9 1.0 19.9
Career Old Dominion University 99 1813 62.4% 62.5% 7.6 1.8 0.9 18.3

WNBA career

Machanguana was drafted in the 2nd round (16th overall) in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She played collegiately at Old Dominion University. In 1997, Machanguana was named to the Final Four All Tournament team.[6] With the Sparks, she played in 59 games in 2 seasons, starting 1 and averaging 3.1 points per game. In 2001, Machanguana played with the Charlotte Sting, where she played in 30 games, starting 8 and averaging 5.4 points per game. In her final season in the WNBA, Machanguana played with the Orlando Miracle. In Orlando, Machanguana played in 29 games, starting 25 of them. She also averaged 4.8 points per game.

Post-WNBA

Since leaving the WNBA after the 2002 season, Machanguana joined F.C. Barcelona in Spain. At the 2006 Lusophony Games, she led the Mozambique women's national basketball team to a gold medal.

In 2006, Machanguana was inducted into Old Dominion University's Hall of Fame.

Non-Profit Work

After retiring from playing basketball, Machanguana returned to Mozambique.[7] Local nonprofits approached her to represent them due to her name recognition and wide reach. Through this work, she learned more about the HIV epidemic in Mozambique.

In 2014, founded the Fundação Clarisse Machanguana (Clarisse Machanguana Foundation),[1] which empowers Mozambiquan youth through sport, education and health.[8] This program From May 2016 to May 2018, Machanguana was appointed UNICEF ambassador to Mozambique in recognition of her commitment to child rights, girls empowerment, and adolescent empowerment.[9]

In spring 2016, she began a trek across Mozambique to bring awareness to the country's HIV epidemic and obstetric fistula.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Machanguana approached the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique for aid in obtaining a scholarship to learn about nonprofit management. She was awarded a scholarship through the Fulbright Program. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Arizona with a master’s degree in global nonprofit management.

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
1999 Los Angeles 2808.8.490.000.7221.90.30.30.10.52.6
2000 Los Angeles 31113.6.578.000.5602.30.60.40.10.63.5
2001 Charlotte 30819.3.500.000.6494.00.60.50.51.45.4
2002 Orlando 292514.8.535.000.6402.20.60.40.11.14.8
Career 4 years, 3 teams 1183414.2.527.000.6502.60.50.40.20.94.1

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
1999 Los Angeles 107.0.667.000.0002.00.00.00.00.04.0
2000 Los Angeles 4011.8.500.000.6672.80.00.30.30.33.0
2001 Charlotte 8016.5.531.6672.40.30.40.40.84.8
Career 3 years, 2 teams 13014.3.535.000.6672.50.20.30.30.54.2

Sources

  1. Adeniji, Ade. "Nine Questions for Clarisse Machanguana, Former WNBA Player". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. "TRANSITION GAME: FORMER ODU STAR CLARISSE MACHANGUANA IS DRIBBING PAST THE CULTURE SHOCK AGAIN AS SHE ADJUSTS TO THE ABL". scholar.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  3. Dearth, Sonny (23 June 2007). "Star Track: Clarisse Machanguana". McClatchy - Tribune Business News.
  4. "Clarisse Machanguana". Old Dominion University. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  5. "ODU Media Guide" (PDF). www.odusports.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  6. Nixon, Rick. "Official 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  7. "Former Lady Monarchs Star Named UNICEF Ambassador to Mozambique". Old Dominion University. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. "Fundação Clarisse Machanguana". The International Exchange. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. "What we do". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 13 May 2022.


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