Clarisse Machanguana

Clarisse Machanguana (born 4 October 1976) is a former college and professional women's basketball player and philanthropist from Mozambique. Machanguana played internationally in both the United States (WNBA from 1999 to 2002) and in Spain (FC Barcelona in 2003). She also represented Mozambique at the 2006 Lusophony Games in Macau, China. In 2014, Machanguana founded the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation, which empowers Mozambican youth through sport, education and health. Machanguana was the UNICEF ambassador to Mozambique from 2016 to 2018. In April 2026, Machanguana was inducted into the FIBA basketball Hall of Fame.

Early life Machanguana was born in Mozambique on October 4, 1976. At age 15, Machanguana led the Mozambique national team to a gold medal in the African Games. At 19, she moved to Portugal to attend preparatory school and play basketball. She followed her friend, Portuguese basketball player Ticha Penicheiro, to Old Dominion University.

College basketball career at Old Dominion University Machanguana starred at Old Dominion, where she played three seasons (1994-1997), averaging 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and shot 62.4% from the field. In 1995, Machanguana was named to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Freshman Team, named 1st team All-CAA, and was named CAA Player of the Year. In 1996 and 1997, Machanguana was named 1st team All-CAA and the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament MVP.

In the 1996-97 season, Machanguana and Penicheiro led the Lady Monarchs to a 34-2 record and to the NCAA title game, where Old Dominion lost to Tennessee in the national championship game. Machanguana was named to the 1997 NCAA All-Tournament team, the 1996-97 AP All-America second team, was CAA All-Defense, and was named to the 1996-97 WBCA All-America team.

Old Dominion was 88-11 during Machanguana's three years.

In 2000, Old Dominion retired Machanguana's jersey. In 2006, Machanguana was inducted into Old Dominion's Hall of Fame.

Source

WNBA career Machanguana played four seasons in the WNBA (1999-2002). Machanguana was drafted in the 2nd round (4th pick, 16th overall) in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. With the Sparks, she played in 59 games over two seasons, starting one game and averaging 3.1 points per game. On October 11, 2000, Machanguana was traded to the Charlotte Sting. During the 2001 season for the Sting, Machuanga played in 30 games, starting eight games and averaging 5.4 points per game. On April 18, 2002, Machanguana was traded from the Sting to the Orlando Miracle. In Orlando, Machanguana played in 29 games, starting in 25 games and averaging 4.8 points per game. Machanguana's 2002 season with the Orlanda Magic was her last season in the WNBA.

Post-WNBA basketball career Since leaving the WNBA after the 2002 season, Machanguana joined F.C. Barcelona in Spain. At the 2006 Lusophony Games, she led the Mozambique women's national basketball team to a gold medal. Machanguana played professionally in Portugal, Brazil, France, Korea, Spain, and Italy.

Non-profit work After retiring from basketball, Machanguana returned to Mozambique. Local nonprofits approached her to represent them due to her name recognition and wide reach. Through this work, she learned more about the HIV epidemic in Mozambique.

In 2014, founded the Fundação Clarisse Machanguana (Clarisse Machanguana Foundation), In spring 2016, Machanguana began a trek across Mozambique to bring awareness to the country's HIV epidemic and obstetric fistula.

From May 2016 to May 2018, Machanguana was appointed UNICEF ambassador to Mozambique in recognition of her commitment to child rights, girls empowerment, and adolescent empowerment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Machanguana approached the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique for aid in obtaining a scholarship to learn about nonprofit management. She was awarded a scholarship through the Fulbright Program and, in 2022, Machanguana graduated from Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management with a Master’s degree in global management (with a nonprofit management concentration).

In 2026, Machanguana's home in Marracuene, just outside of Maputo, was devastated by flooding from the Incomati River, in an event that killed nearly 300 people and displaced nearly 500,000 others.

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Playoffs