About Mwadi
Sheltered by the power and strength of her determined and loving mother, Mwadi grew up in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a time of political power struggles and violent unrest.The realities of this volatile environment ironically served to hone her mental agility, keen insight, and adaptability.
At age 13 her relentless attitude and high energy were rewarded when she began playing team basketball at the Massamba School in Kinshasa (the youngest player on the court). Proving herself outstanding on and off the court, she was later brought to the United States by NBA star and fellow countryman, Dikembe Mutombo, and his brother Tshitingo Mutombo, who personally appealed to the government officials in Zaire for permission.
Mwadi has been an All-Star player in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks since its inception in 1997, helping guide the Sparks to consecutive championships in 2001 and 2002. She is affectionately referred to by players, coaches, scouts, and commentators alike as the Michael Jordan of the WNBA. Mwadi is also a member of the female Congolese Basketball Team, Simba Ladies, which represented her home country at the African Cup of Nations in 2005.