“I Took a Different Path”: Tyasha Harris on Mentorship, and Empowering Youth Through AAU and Voice In Sport

Rashad MillerAugust 20, 2025August 20, 2025no comment

Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Since arriving in Dallas, guard Tyasha Harris has given the Wings a steadying presence. But her greatest imprint might not be in a box score. Through grassroots initiatives, mentorship, and her own example, Harris has become a bridge for the next generation of hoopers who don’t always get the spotlight.

“Giving back has just always been in my nature,” Harris told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I’m very family-oriented, and I’ve always felt the need to do for others.”

Tyasha Harris Took a Different Path to the WNBA

Harris’ outlook is rooted in her own journey. She wasn’t a McDonald’s All-American, nor did she climb the Nike circuit ladder. Instead, she stayed loyal to her local AAU program in Indiana, learning early that perseverance matters as much as prestige.

“I didn’t play on Nike or any of those circuits,” Harris recalled to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I just stayed with my home team. That loyalty stuck with me, and now that I have a platform, I want to use it to give back to kids who come from similar situations—kids who are less privileged and just need a little support.”

Her path ultimately led to South Carolina, where she became the program’s all-time assists leader under Dawn Staley and helped capture the 2017 national championship. Drafted seventh overall by Dallas in 2020, Harris has since carved out a reputation as one of the league’s steadiest floor generals.

Building Bridges Through Mentorship

That sense of loyalty now drives Harris’ work off the floor. She runs her own AAU team in Indiana, serving under-resourced athletes—many from single-parent homes—who lack the visibility and training opportunities that define elite recruiting pipelines.

“I have little sisters, so being a mentor has always been big for me,” Harris explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “With my AAU team, I try to give them the tools and confidence they need, because I know how hard it is when you don’t have access.”

She also partners with Voice In Sport (VIS), an advocacy and mentorship platform focused on supporting female athletes of all ages. VIS connects young players with professional and collegiate athlete mentors through group and one-on-one virtual sessions, offering guidance on everything from training and nutrition to leadership, confidence, and life after sports.

“I joined VIS because of my sisters and the mentorship program they already had,” Harris told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I wanted to be part of something where I could give more. I’ve got one coming up on the 9th, and I’m looking forward to just being there—answering questions, helping out, whatever they need.”

A Mission That Travels With Tyasha Harris

Even while sidelined this season, Harris has continued to lead. After undergoing a left knee procedure in June, she was ruled out for the rest of 2025 but has stayed engaged with the team. Along with four-time WNBA All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, Harris has been a vocal leader for this Wings team amid injury.

“Those guys have so much experience and so much wisdom to share with this young group,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com of Harris and Ogunbowale. “Even if it’s just little pointers here and there—whether it’s technique things that help them navigate a screen, or off the ball where they should be looking, or what they can be reading on the ball handler. It’s extremely beneficial, and I truly appreciate Arike and Ty and everything they’ve been able to contribute while not on the floor.”

Dallas has leaned heavily on youth throughout an injury-riddled year, and Harris’ voice has become vital in filling the gaps. She has also hinted at expanding her grassroots presence to Texas.

“Honestly, when I was in Connecticut, I thought about expanding my AAU team there,” Harris explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “If I stay in Dallas for a while, maybe it could happen here, too. I love the basketball community here—there are a lot of great hoopers in Dallas. So it might be a thing.”

More Than a Stat Line

Across five games this season, Harris averaged 4.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, including a 10-point outing at Atlanta on May 24. She led the Wings in three-point percentage (.455) before her injury. In 2023, she was the WNBA’s leader in three-point shooting (.464) while with Connecticut.

Her professional résumé underscores her steadiness. Yet what defines Harris most is her mission: loyalty to her roots, belief in unconventional journeys, and commitment to young athletes who need guidance.

“I took a different path,” Harris detailed to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I wasn’t highly ranked, and I didn’t have all the big names attached to me, but I still made it here. I want kids to understand that your journey might not look like everyone else’s, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach your goals.”

For Tyasha Harris, impact is about far more than numbers. It’s about the lives she touches, the doors she opens, and the message she delivers every time she speaks to the next wave of players.