From Fight On to Far Beyond: The Global Rise of Aliyah Mazyck
Over the years, I’ve watched a lot of incredible players come through USC.
But Aliyah Mazyck — she was different.
Not just because she was a lockdown defender.
Not just because she could pull up and splash a three from deep.
But because even when the game didn’t always love her back, she kept showing up with fire in her eyes and pride in her jersey.
There were times during her USC career when you could tell it wasn’t easy.
Whether it was injuries, coaching transitions, or just the culture built around her not always feeling aligned — you could sense she had to push through a lot behind the scenes.
So to see her now — thriving overseas, smiling, balling out in multiple countries, winning MVPs, and living a full, healthy life?
That means everything.
This isn’t just a story about numbers and accolades.
This is about resilience, loyalty, and how sometimes the best chapters come after the ones that almost broke you.
The Foundation: North Carolina’s Hidden Gem
Before she was setting records in cardinal and gold, Aliyah Mazyck was already making waves in Charlotte, North Carolina.
She led Myers Park High School to back-to-back state championships and was named the North Carolina 4A Player of the Year in 2014. She was known for her electric speed, her tenacity on defense, and her ability to take over games.
Coming out of high school, Mazyck was ranked in the top 20 nationally on ESPN HoopGurlz and was widely considered one of the top guards in the state of North Carolina — if not the top guard outright.
When Cynthia Cooper-Dyke came calling from USC, Mazyck answered — bringing her East Coast toughness to the West Coast stage.
Becoming a Trojan
Aliyah made the move to USC ready to help reshape the program.
But from the start, the path wasn’t paved in gold.
Injuries hit early.
She missed key games and had to fight her way back into rhythm.
And still, she didn’t fold.
“You learn patience. You learn discipline. I always knew my time was coming.”
The Coaching Change: A Shift in Direction
After Mazyck’s sophomore year, USC made a major change.
Though framed publicly as a resignation, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke’s departure came under clear internal pressure.
In her place, Mark Trakh returned to lead the Trojans — his second stint as head coach after previously guiding USC from 2004 to 2009.
Two coaches.
Two very different energies.
Two entirely different systems.
A lot of players might’ve entered the transfer portal — and truthfully, no one would’ve blamed Mazyck if she had.
But she stayed.
“It wasn’t just about who was coaching. It was about USC — and finishing what I started.”
She didn’t just stay.
She leveled up — and left her name in the USC record books.
The Breakout Year: 86 Threes and a Spot in USC History
In the 2017–18 season — her first under Coach Trakh — Aliyah Mazyck didn’t just bounce back from injuries.
She rewrote the record books.
That year, Mazyck knocked down 86 three-pointers, officially setting the USC Women’s Basketball single-season record for most made threes.
That mark still stands among the best in program history — a true outlier season that highlighted just how elite her perimeter shooting had become.
But it wasn’t just volume.
It was timing. Rhythm. Confidence. Mazyck became the heartbeat of the Trojans’ offense, constantly spacing the floor, pulling up in transition, and punishing teams who dared to go under screens.
She was also a menace on defense — making the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors.
“That season, I felt like I was finally playing free. I wasn’t thinking — I was just hooping.”
Aliyah Mazyck didn’t just lead the team in scoring that year — she showed USC fans what it looks like when preparation, confidence, and trust collide.
Her USC Teammates: Bonds That Last
Mazyck was part of a special USC core that included:
Minyon Moore – one of the best perimeter defenders in the country
Kristen Simon – dominant on the glass
Mariya Moore – a transfer with big-game experience
Courtney Jaco – the cerebral floor leader and now a head coach in her own right
“Courtney was like a big sister. The way she carried herself on and off the court — you saw what leadership looked like.”
Even when the wins were hard to come by, the locker room love was real.
What USC Meant to Her
When reflecting on her USC experience, Mazyck carries both the scars and the lessons with pride.
“The thing that meant the most? The people. The journey. Just putting on that jersey and knowing I gave it everything.”
And her biggest lesson?
“You don’t always control the outcomes. But you control your effort, your energy, and your belief in yourself.”
Overseas Elevation: From Overlooked to Unstoppable
After USC, the WNBA door didn’t open — but a world of opportunity did.
Mazyck went overseas and became a star.
Not a role player. Not a name on a bench.
A star.
🇮🇸 Iceland (Fjölnir) – 2021–22
28.5 PPG (League Leader)
Foreign MVP
Team reached the semifinals
🇹🇷 Turkey (Kirklareli) – 2022–23
28.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.9 APG
Multiple 40+ point games, including a 44-point explosion
Finished as #2 scorer in the Turkish league
🇷🇺 Russia (Dynamo Novosibirsk Region) – 2024–25
22.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG
Multiple Player of the Week honors
Shooting over 60% from the field
Everywhere she’s gone, she’s put the world on notice.
Aliyah Mazyck didn’t just bounce back — she leveled up.
Life Beyond the Box Score
From Germany to Iceland, Turkey to Russia, Mazyck has lived a life few athletes ever imagine.
She’s embraced new cultures, led teams in foreign languages, and built a global name from scratch.
“Overseas taught me how to lead. How to trust my instincts. How to be me — no matter where I was.”
Final Thoughts: A Story Bigger Than Basketball
Aliyah Mazyck’s story isn’t just about three-pointers or MVPs.
It’s about believing in yourself when others doubt you.
It’s about staying loyal to your program when it would’ve been easier to walk away.
It’s about reinventing yourself and shining in a whole new world.
And above all, it’s about joy —
because it’s clear now, from every photo, every highlight, every stat line —
Aliyah Mazyck is happy.
And for those of us who watched her push through at USC —
that might be the best stat of them all.
