MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA Hall of Famer Mame Maty Mbengue, one of the most iconic figures in African basketball, has added a new chapter to her legacy with the release of her biography Confidences d’une légende du basketball.
The book reflects on her remarkable career, her life experiences, and the moment that changed everything: her induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Mbengue became the first African woman ever to receive FIBA's highest honor. Now, as the basketball world looks ahead to the FIBA Hall of Fame 2026 Enshrinement Ceremony, she returns to share how that recognition not only transformed her perspective but also inspired her to tell her story.
“When I learned about this nomination, I felt honored and very happy. Especially since I was the first African woman and the first Senegalese woman to receive it,” she recalls.
“I played basketball for 20 years and received many distinctions, but this one was the greatest. Being part of the Hall of Fame legends is a major achievement.”
Her 2022 Enshrinement at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Switzerland remains one of the most emotional moments of her life. The ceremony, attended by her family, teammates, and global basketball icons, left a lasting mark.
“I was the star of the evening and felt proud. When I delivered my speech, I was very emotional. Seeing my family, former players like Lisa Leslie, and all those important figures... I was overjoyed.”
The experience resonated far beyond her own journey. Her induction sparked immense pride at home in Senegal, where the Basketball Federation honored her by retiring her iconic number 15 from the national team — a first for the country.
Confidences d’une légende du basketball
It was precisely this wave of emotion and recognition that led Mbengue to write her biography.
“This experience motivated me, and that is why I decided to write this book,” she says. “I thought I needed to share my experience with young people and the next generation to show them that basketball is like a family, it brings people together.”
In the publication, Mbengue offers an intimate look at her life: her beginnings in Dakar, her scholarship to the United States, her victories and challenges, and the moments that shaped her both on and off the court.
One of the book’s most powerful chapters recounts her traumatic incident at the Paris airport while traveling from the USA to Tunisia to represent Senegal at the 1990 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
“I had problems at the Paris airport. I was handcuffed because I didn’t have a transit visa. I stayed there nearly 24 hours. It was extremely uncomfortable, and it still affects me today,” she explains. Yet she displayed her talent throughout the event and delivered the game‑winning basket, giving Senegal the gold.
Throughout the book, she highlights how basketball opened doors she never imagined. “My father couldn’t afford to send me abroad. Thanks to basketball, I earned a scholarship, studied, and built my life. Through sport, you can become someone.”
A Legacy Inspiring Future Generations
Mbengue’s impact continues to extend far beyond the hardwood. In Dakar, she is a widely respected figure whose voice carries weight, and she sees her book as both a testimony and a tool for social impact. For Mbengue, her biography is more than a memoir. It is an invitation: “To understand my journey — where I began, and how I became who I am. And to inspire young people to do sports.”
Step into a powerful story that will move, motivate, and stay with you long after the last page. Click here and get your copy of Mame Maty Mbengue’s biography.
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About the FIBA Foundation
The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports, particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
FIBA’s cultural heritage is the heart of the FIBA Foundation’s cultural and historical activities. It is one of the driving forces behind the promotion and dissemination of FIBA’s values.