Zara Okafor

Zara Okafor was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, as the youngest of six siblings in a bustling household. Growing up, Zara gravitated toward sports as a way to stand out in her large family. At first, basketball wasn’t even on her radar—Zara’s height (6’8” by the time she was 16) made her a natural fit for volleyball, and she quickly became a star player at her high school. Zara’s life changed when a local basketball coach spotted her during a match. He saw her raw athleticism and potential to dominate the paint and invited her to join his basketball academy. Though hesitant at first, Zara fell in love with the game almost immediately. She was drawn to basketball’s physicality and the strategic battles that unfolded on the court. Zara’s big break came when she received a scholarship to play college basketball in the United States. She attended the University of Connecticut, where she became a key player for one of the most successful programs in women’s basketball history. At UConn, Zara refined her skills and expanded her game beyond defense, developing a reliable mid-range jumper and becoming a double-double machine. When Zara learned about the Aurora Hoops League, she immediately knew it was where she belonged. Joining the Charlotte Solstice was an easy decision. Zara saw the AHL as an opportunity to elevate women’s basketball globally while staying true to her roots.