Shanavia Dowdell brings over 15 years of elite international and professional basketball experience to the sidelines, along with a championship mindset and a passion for developing the next generation of student-athletes. A proud native of Alabama, Dowdell burst onto the national scene as the 2006 Ms. Basketball of Alabama before taking her talents to Louisiana Tech University. There, she earned her degree in Sociology and cemented her legacy as a two-time Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year and WAC Tournament MVP. Her dominant collegiate career led to her being selected 18th overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft. Dowdell's professional journey spans the globe with standout stints in Australia, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. She collected numerous accolades, including three consecutive LF2 League MVP honors in France, a WNBL Import Player of the Year award in Australia, and multiple championships across Europe and Oceania. Her leadership extended beyond the court as she mentored youth through camps, clinics, and school programs. She has played for top international teams such as BBC Grengewald Hueschtert (Luxembourg), Aulnoye-Aymeries (France), Declercq Stortbeton Waregem (Belgium), the Rockhampton Cyclones and Townsville Fire (Australia), and Louisiana Tech (USA), serving as both a team captain and community ambassador. Among her many accolades are the WAC Player of the Year (2008-09, 2009-10), WAC Tournament MVP (2009-10), WAC All-Freshman Team (2006-07), LBBL League Champion (2023), QBL League Champion (2016), Belgium League Player of the Year (2015-16), and Townsville Fire MVP (2012). Now stepping into her role as an Assistant Coach, Dowdell is excited to share the wealth of knowledge she has gained through her journey as a player, teammate, and leader. Her experience, competitive edge, and commitment to developing athletes make her a valuable asset to any program she serves.