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Valerie Nainima
Current position
TitleAssistant head coach
TeamProvidence
ConferenceBig East Conference
Biographical details
Born (1986-06-29) June 29, 1986 (age 38)
Rakiraki, Fiji
Alma materUniversity of South Carolina
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2014–2020Fordham (asst.)
2021–2023Michigan (asst.)
2023–presentProvidence (asst.)
Medal record
Women's basketball
Representing  Fiji
Pacific Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Apia
Gold medal – first place 2015 Port Moresby
Silver medal – second place 2019 Apia
Pacific Mini Games
Gold medal – first place 2005 Koror

Valerie Nainima (born June 29, 1986) is a Fijian former basketball player and current assistant head coach for Providence. She is also a member of Fiji women's national basketball team.

Playing career

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Nainima began her college basketball career at LIU.[1] During her freshman season she averaged 17.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals game. Her 17.8 points per game was the highest scoring average of any freshman in the nation. She also ranked second in the conference in three-point percentage (.420) and third in both three-pointers made (2.07 per game) and free-throw percentage (.853).[2] Following an outstanding season, she became the first player in the Northeast Conference history to win both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season. She was also named to the NEC First Team All-Conference and NEC All-Rookie Team. She won 10 NEC Rookie of the Week awards, setting the NEC record for the most rookie of the week honors in a season.[3] During her sophomore season she averaged 20.4 points per game. She became the fastest player in LIU history to reach 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone in 53 games.[4]

When LIU head coach Stephanie Gaitley left to become the head coach at Monmouth, Nainima transferred to South Carolina. After sitting out a year as a transfer, Nainima made an immediate impact during her junior year with the Gamecocks and averaged 17.3 points per game, which ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference and she was subsequently named to the All-SEC Second Team.[5] On August 6, 2010, she underwent surgery to repair an ACL injury in her right knee.[6] She began practicing with the team in December, four months after surgery.[7] She made her season debut for the Gamecocks on December 12, 2010, where she recorded eight points, three assists and two steals in 12 minutes. She was subsequently named the AgSouth Athlete of the Week.[8] She finished her career as one of the program's most prolific three-point shooters, ranking eighth with 115 career triples, and fourth in percentage (.338).[4]

Following her collegiate career, Nainima played professionally overseas with New Basket Oberhausen in Germany for three seasons.[9]

Coaching career

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Fordham

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On January 16, 2015, Nainima was named video coordinator for Fordham. This reunited her with former LIU head coach Gaitley, who helped recruit Nainima.[5] On June 14, 2017, she was promoted to assistant coach.[10]

Michigan

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On May 10, 2021, Nainima was named an assistant coach for Michigan.[11][12]

Providence

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On March 27, 2023, Nainima was named an assistant coach for Providence.[13]

National team career

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Nainima has been a member of the Fiji women's national basketball team since she was seventeen.[9] She represented Fiji at the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games, where she averaged 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists and won a gold medal. She again represented Fiji at the 2007 South Pacific Games, where she averaged 25.7 points per game and won a gold medal.[14][15] She didn't compete at the 2011 Pacific Games due to playing for basketball overseas for New Basket Oberhausen in Germany.[16] She represented Fiji at the 2015 Pacific Games and won a gold medal.[17]

She was named to the roster for the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, however she was unable to make the trip to Lebanon.[18][19] She represented Fiji at the 2019 Pacific Games where she averaged 16.4 points, 7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and won a silver medal.[20] Her 4.6 assists per game led all players in the tournament.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ Weinreb, Michael (February 24, 2007). "Long Island University Taking Diverse Road to Success". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "FIJ - Nainima makes history as first-ever NEC player". fiba.basketball. March 29, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "LIU's Valerie Nainima Named 2007 NEC Women's Basketball Player and Rookie of the Year". northeastconference.org. March 1, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Valerie Nainima Bio". gamecocksonline.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Valerie Nainima Named New Women's Basketball Video Coordinator". fordhamsports.com. January 16, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Koval, Diana (August 6, 2010). "Nainima Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery". gamecocksonline.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nainima Begins Practice This Week". gamecocksonline.com. December 10, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Valerie Nainima Named AgSouth Athlete of the Week". gamecocksonline.com. December 13, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Valerie Nainima Named New Women's Basketball Video Coordinator". MGoBlue.com. January 16, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Seru, Maikeli (June 14, 2017). "Nainima's role". Fiji Times. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nainima Joins Wolverines as Women's Basketball Assistant Coach". Fiji Times. May 12, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  12. ^ VanMetre, Sarah (May 10, 2021). "Nainima Joins Wolverines as Women's Basketball Assistant Coach". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  13. ^ Daniels, Taylor (March 27, 2023). "Michigan assistant coaches Batth, Nainima and graduate manager Frost leave for Providence". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Vuadreu, Lavenia (January 25, 2010). "Nainima rated in the USA". Fiji Sun. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "First Person: LIU guard Valerie Nainima". New York Daily News. October 9, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  16. ^ Ratuva, Anasilini (July 22, 2011). "Nainima joins European League". Fiji Sun. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  17. ^ "Nainima to lead Fiji basketball in PNG". Fiji Times. June 28, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "Fiji announce squad for Bengaluru mission". fiba.basketball. June 20, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "Fiji women build from scratch in Bengaluru". ESPN.com. July 28, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "American Samoa wins the Gold Medal in the Pacific Games". fiba.basketball. July 17, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  21. ^ Ratuva, Anasilini (June 24, 2019). "Valerie Nainima Leads Our Fiji Women's Basketball Medal Defence At The Pacific Games". Fiji Sun. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  22. ^ "Nainima, Fiji living up to expectations". fiba.basketball. July 14, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
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