Mike had the special opportunity to talk with Clarisse Machanguana. The former Lady Monarch had a storied career at Old Dominion, earning CAA Player of the Year and All-American honors on her way to being drafted by the LA Sparks in the WNBA athlete. After a successful professional career Clarisse started the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation with the vision of creating a generation of women leaders who can harness their dreams, potential, and talent to overcome traditional barriers and positively reshape their futures and communities. Her foundation has touched countless lives in Mozambique since its' founding in 2014.

Mozambique is dealing with catastrophic flooding, that sadly took Clarisse's home and all of her possessions. In order to continue her work with her foundation, she seeks support to get her life back in order. Please visit the following link to support Clarisse in this effort:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Rebuilding-clarisses-home-after-mozambique-floods?attribution_id=sl:3c6c9f38-62df-4071-ad85-5f24ea752228&ts=1771515920&utm_campaign=natman_today_topbar_ios&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Chapters: 00:00 Sponsor Message: Old Dominion Athletic Foundation

00:20 Meet ODU Legend Clarisse Machanguana

00:36 Growing Up in Mozambique: Finding Basketball & Belonging

01:59 Breaking Barriers: Civil War, Gender Norms & Becoming a Voice

06:24 Portugal Years: First Big Move and a Path to ODU

09:50 Culture Shock at Old Dominion: Language, Training & Survival

14:41 ODU Dominance: Leadership Lessons from a Historic Run

17:37 Playing for Coach Wendy Larry: Tough Love and Growth

19:42 Sisterhood with Ticha Penicheiro & the ODU Family

21:45 Pro Career & WNBA Draft: Proving Yourself Around the World

24:46 Building the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation: Health, Education & Hope

27:07 UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: Impact and Limits

29:25 NBA Africa Partnerships: Basketball as the Entry Point, Not the Destination

31:48 Has Mozambique Changed for Girls? The Work Still Ahead

33:37 Catastrophic Flooding: Losing Everything and Asking for Help

36:29 How to Support + Final Message to Monarch Nation