Maria Gakdeng

Maria Gakdeng (born June 9, 2003) is a South Sudanese-American professional basketball player for KSC Szekszárd of the Hungarian A Division. She played college basketball for Boston College Eagles and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Early life and high school career

Gakdeng was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to South Sudanese parents who fled the civil war in 1999. Her family moved to Lanham, Maryland, in 2011.

Gakdeng set a new career high with 22 points in a 73–63 win against Wake Forest on February 26, 2023. She finished her sophomore season with team bests in cumulative scoring, rebounding, and blocking as she averaged 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assist per game to go with 58 total blocks.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Gakdeng made her North Carolina debut on November 8, 2023, scoring 13 points in a 102–49 season-opening win against Gardner–Webb. She recorded her first double-double for North Carolina with 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 76–64 loss to UConn on December 10. She scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 59–56 win against Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, before falling to eventual champions South Carolina in the second round. She averaged 9.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in her junior season.

On March 2, 2025, Gakdeng set a new career high with 25 points in a 78–75 loss to Virginia. Gakdeng finished her senior season averaging 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, earning second-team All-ACC honors. On May 8, she was waived by the Dream.

On June 28, 2025, it was announced that Gakdeng had signed with Hungarian club KSC Szekszárd.

On May 11, 2026, it was announced that Gakdeng had join the Greensboro Groove of the UpShot League for their inaugural season.

National team career Gakdeng was named to the South Sudan national team for the 2025 Women's Afrobasket.