The Melbourne Tigers are excited to announce the signing of Cierra Dillard for the 2024 NBL1 South Season.
Cierra, a native of Rochester, New York, joins the Tigers after having a stellar college career which has led to her having a great professional career to date. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst for two years, before transferring to the University at Buffalo. While playing at Buffalo, Cierra helped the Bulls to back-to-back March Madness tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2018.
Cierra was selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2019 WNBA draft and spent time with the LA Sparks before continuing her career overseas. Cierra then signed with Stadium Casablanca in the Spanish league before heading to Africa where she played for Sporting Alexandria winning back-to-back African League championships and being named the league MVP in the 2023 season. Cierra is a member of the Senegal national team where she recently played in the 2024 Olympic qualifiers where she put up 10ppg 5apg and 5rpg.
Coach Kaleb Sclater said “I am thrilled that Cierra has joined us for 2024, straight away I could tell she was a very positive, upbeat, and humble person that would fit in with our group well. She brings WNBA, Spain, Africa, Turkey, and national team experience and has shown to adapt to all styles of play. Her passing ability, the way she sees and runs the floor will go well with our shooters, she can really shoot it as well. Cierra is quite physical which will be great defensively, she has the ability defend multiple positions, so will fit in well for us”.
Cierra said “I am very excited to come to Australia and to join the Melbourne Tigers for the NBL1 2024 season. I’m blessed for the opportunity and grateful to administration for welcoming me to the club. Talking with Coach Kaleb and hearing his eager vision, along with an exciting spark around the team and foundation of one of the most historic clubs in Australia. I am motivated and thrilled to join Melbourne. Go Tigers! With thrilling anticipation around NBL1 league and NBL1 South Conference, I can already tell it’s going to be a great, competitive season, and not just for the clubs and players but for the fans as well.”
Come down and watch Cierra make her Tigers debut when her and her teammates take on the Dandenong Rangers Thursday 4th of April at 6:00pm.