Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Women’s Hoops: It’s a Family Affair
2/9/2017 11:45 AM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah athletics is all about family. Many teams at Utah have multiple family members who play with each other, from football to volleyball to women's basketball.
The Utah women's basketball team has a pair of relatives who play together - cousins Malia Nawahine and Wendy Anae. Three seasons ago, Malia's sister Valarie transferred from BYU to join her kin for two seasons.
"That was just awesome (to play with Valerie and Malia)," recalls Wendy. "We lived in the same house forever, since we were young kids. To live in the same house when we were little and to live in the same house now in college, I wouldn't expect anything less. I would always expect to live with them because that is how it has always been. I was really fortunate that we got to continue that here in college."
The Nawahines spent most of their childhood in Hawaii but then moved to San Diego, Calif. when Malia was in seventh grade. While attending Cathedral Catholic High School, the duo teamed up with Anae on the basketball team.
Valerie graduated from Cathedral and knew she wanted to play at the next level. Her brother, Spanky Nawahine, played football for the Utes at the time and her grandfather was a quarterback for Utah in the 60's. She strayed away from Utah and decided she would begin her college career at BYU.
At the time, Malia moved to Utah when her father was transferred. She was upset by the move because she was still in high school and was leaving her cousin (Wendy) behind in San Diego. Malia would finish out her high school career at Springville High School.
"I wasn't happy when I moved to Utah at all," Malia said. "When I started high school in Utah, it wasn't that bad and the people here were really nice. It was kind of weird because I didn't have any family with me in high school. I always went to school with my sister, my cousin or someone. I was by myself."
"It was hard when Malia moved because we were used to always being there with each other." Wendy stated. "Her and Valerie weren't there anymore. They were with me pretty much my entire life then they moved away to Utah. It was an adjustment, especially in basketball. I love playing with her and Valerie. It was hard at first. You just have to adjust."
Once basketball season started, Malia found her place. She was named the 2012 Gatorade Utah Girls Basketball player of the year. She led Springville to a 4A State Championship and was named the MVP of the state tournament. Schools had their eye on her, in particular BYU and Utah.
She went to all of Valerie's games at BYU and knew that was the school she wanted to go to. BYU was pushing for Malia to be a Cougar, but Utah showed interest and the high school senior was conflicted. She contemplated if Utah was where she wanted to go. Utah was also looking at Wendy. Wendy was offered a full scholarship from then Utah head coach Anthony Lewis after her official visit.
Wendy wanted to go to BYU as well but they were not looking to give out a scholarship to her. They offered her to be a walk-on. It was her dream school and her mother played for the Cougars in the 80's.
"I was a late recruit," Wendy stated. "BYU offered me to be a walk on but I don't do walk ons. I needed the scholarship. I really wanted to follow in my mom's footsteps and to do it with my cousin (at BYU), that would be awesome. But when I went on my visit to Utah, it changed everything. I really loved the culture here and I love being a Ute."
Malia and Wendy talked about the schools that had offered them a position. They wanted to go wherever the other one went. Their decision on where they would end up relied heavily on each other.
"When I heard Malia went to Utah (for a visit), I said 'Why not?' It was really cool. I thought it would be a really cool experience to go through college with her because she is really close and one of the closest people I know to me. It was a really unique experience that we go to play at the same college with each other," Wendy said.
When Malia committed to Utah, Valerie decided to transfer to Utah. Valerie played in two games for the Cougars her freshman year and the opportunity to play with Malia was too hard to pass up. Then Wendy would join the duo.
The trio played together for two seasons. They would play and live together for those two years. It was like old times for them. With a change in head coach, Valerie transferred to BYU-Hawaii for the 2015-16 season but Malia and Wendy continued to play for Utah.
Malia and Wendy both are making an impact this year. Malia has a season high of 19 points. She has started in the 20 of the 23 games this season. Wendy had to step in with the loss of forward, Joeseta Fatuesi early in the season. She has a season high of eight rebounds and has eleven blocks this season.
The Utah women's basketball team has a pair of relatives who play together - cousins Malia Nawahine and Wendy Anae. Three seasons ago, Malia's sister Valarie transferred from BYU to join her kin for two seasons.
"That was just awesome (to play with Valerie and Malia)," recalls Wendy. "We lived in the same house forever, since we were young kids. To live in the same house when we were little and to live in the same house now in college, I wouldn't expect anything less. I would always expect to live with them because that is how it has always been. I was really fortunate that we got to continue that here in college."
The Nawahines spent most of their childhood in Hawaii but then moved to San Diego, Calif. when Malia was in seventh grade. While attending Cathedral Catholic High School, the duo teamed up with Anae on the basketball team.
Valerie graduated from Cathedral and knew she wanted to play at the next level. Her brother, Spanky Nawahine, played football for the Utes at the time and her grandfather was a quarterback for Utah in the 60's. She strayed away from Utah and decided she would begin her college career at BYU.
At the time, Malia moved to Utah when her father was transferred. She was upset by the move because she was still in high school and was leaving her cousin (Wendy) behind in San Diego. Malia would finish out her high school career at Springville High School.
"I wasn't happy when I moved to Utah at all," Malia said. "When I started high school in Utah, it wasn't that bad and the people here were really nice. It was kind of weird because I didn't have any family with me in high school. I always went to school with my sister, my cousin or someone. I was by myself."
"It was hard when Malia moved because we were used to always being there with each other." Wendy stated. "Her and Valerie weren't there anymore. They were with me pretty much my entire life then they moved away to Utah. It was an adjustment, especially in basketball. I love playing with her and Valerie. It was hard at first. You just have to adjust."
Once basketball season started, Malia found her place. She was named the 2012 Gatorade Utah Girls Basketball player of the year. She led Springville to a 4A State Championship and was named the MVP of the state tournament. Schools had their eye on her, in particular BYU and Utah.
She went to all of Valerie's games at BYU and knew that was the school she wanted to go to. BYU was pushing for Malia to be a Cougar, but Utah showed interest and the high school senior was conflicted. She contemplated if Utah was where she wanted to go. Utah was also looking at Wendy. Wendy was offered a full scholarship from then Utah head coach Anthony Lewis after her official visit.
Wendy wanted to go to BYU as well but they were not looking to give out a scholarship to her. They offered her to be a walk-on. It was her dream school and her mother played for the Cougars in the 80's.
"I was a late recruit," Wendy stated. "BYU offered me to be a walk on but I don't do walk ons. I needed the scholarship. I really wanted to follow in my mom's footsteps and to do it with my cousin (at BYU), that would be awesome. But when I went on my visit to Utah, it changed everything. I really loved the culture here and I love being a Ute."
Malia and Wendy talked about the schools that had offered them a position. They wanted to go wherever the other one went. Their decision on where they would end up relied heavily on each other.
"When I heard Malia went to Utah (for a visit), I said 'Why not?' It was really cool. I thought it would be a really cool experience to go through college with her because she is really close and one of the closest people I know to me. It was a really unique experience that we go to play at the same college with each other," Wendy said.
When Malia committed to Utah, Valerie decided to transfer to Utah. Valerie played in two games for the Cougars her freshman year and the opportunity to play with Malia was too hard to pass up. Then Wendy would join the duo.
The trio played together for two seasons. They would play and live together for those two years. It was like old times for them. With a change in head coach, Valerie transferred to BYU-Hawaii for the 2015-16 season but Malia and Wendy continued to play for Utah.
Malia and Wendy both are making an impact this year. Malia has a season high of 19 points. She has started in the 20 of the 23 games this season. Wendy had to step in with the loss of forward, Joeseta Fatuesi early in the season. She has a season high of eight rebounds and has eleven blocks this season.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
W
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