Mya Hollingshed Bio
Mya Hollingshed, born on October 29, 1999, in Houston, Texas, is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player who currently plays for the Greensboro Groove of the UpShot League. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and playing the center position, she first rose to national attention during her college career at the University of Colorado, where she earned back-to-back All-Pac 12 honors in 2021 and 2022. Selected 8th overall by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Hollingshed has represented Puerto Rico on the international stage, including at the 2022 FIBA World Cup. She is also notable as the granddaughter of Terry Sykes, who was chosen in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets.
Early Life and Background
Mya Hollingshed was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where she attended Bellaire High School and quickly emerged as one of the most promising basketball prospects in the region. A four-year letterwinner, she served as a team captain and earned all-state honors while developing into a versatile forward. She was nominated as a McDonald’s All-American and suited up for the Texas Elite Phenoms in the AAU circuit, and she also drew recognition as an Adidas and Under Armour All-American, foreshadowing her future as a high-level college recruit.
Growing up in Houston placed Hollingshed in one of the most competitive basketball ecosystems in the United States, and her size and skill set allowed her to stand out from an early age. Her family background carries deep ties to the professional game, as her grandfather, Terry Sykes, was a former NBA Draft pick. That basketball lineage helped shape Hollingshed’s work ethic and gave her an early understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
Path to Basketball
Hollingshed’s path to elite basketball began in earnest at Bellaire High School, where her combination of length, shooting touch, and rebounding instincts attracted college coaches from across the country. After graduating, she committed to the University of Colorado, joining the Buffaloes program for the 2017–18 season and beginning what would become a five-year college career. Her development through high school set the stage for her transition into the Pac-12 Conference, where she would eventually become one of the conference’s most consistent performers.
At Colorado, Hollingshed steadily built her reputation as a stretch forward who could score inside and out while anchoring the glass. Her progression from reserve to starter, and eventually to All-Pac 12 selection, demonstrated a clear upward trajectory. By the time she finished her senior season, she had joined the program’s 1,000-point club and led Colorado to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in years, cementing her status as a legitimate professional prospect.
Mya Hollingshed Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Hollingshed’s college career started in a reserve role during her freshman year, when she averaged 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds across 29 games while leading the Buffaloes with a 42.7 percent clip from beyond the arc and a 45.5 percent mark from the floor. The experience gave her a foundation, and as a sophomore she stepped into the starting lineup and posted career highs in both points per game and minutes, while also recording her first collegiate double-double.
As a junior, Hollingshed elevated her game further, setting new career highs in points, rebounds, and assists while registering three double-doubles and leading Colorado in scoring and rebounding. She was named an honorable mention on the preseason All-Pac 12 team, signaling her arrival as one of the conference’s top players. Her senior season brought additional milestones, including selection to the All-Pac 12 First Team and an All-America honorable mention, and she scored in double figures in 20 of her 23 games that year.
WNBA Draft and Professional Transition (2022)
Hollingshed’s standout senior season earned her an invitation to the 2022 WNBA Draft, where she was selected 8th overall by the Las Vegas Aces. She became the sixth University of Colorado player ever drafted and the first since 2013 to hear her name called, marking a proud moment for both the program and her family. Her selection reflected the Aces’ belief that her shooting range, rebounding, and basketball IQ could translate to the professional level.
However, Hollingshed’s WNBA career got off to a difficult start when, on May 2, 2022, just three weeks after the draft, the Aces waived her along with the 13th overall pick Khayla Pointer. As of 2025, Hollingshed had yet to appear in a WNBA game, a setback that did not diminish her standing as a talented prospect. On May 11, 2026, it was announced that she had joined the Greensboro Groove of the UpShot League for their inaugural season, opening a new chapter in her professional journey.
International Play
Beyond her domestic career, Hollingshed has proudly represented Puerto Rico on the international stage, competing in the 2022 FIBA World Cup. In that tournament, she played a leading role as Puerto Rico advanced to its first-ever quarterfinals, a milestone achievement for the program. Her international performances have reinforced her reputation as a reliable and versatile contributor in high-stakes competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining milestones of Hollingshed’s career are her back-to-back All-Pac 12 selections in 2021 and 2022, her membership in Colorado’s 1,000-point club, and her selection as the 8th overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. Leading Puerto Rico to its first FIBA World Cup quarterfinals also stands as one of the signature achievements of her playing career.
Mya Hollingshed Career Wins
While Hollingshed’s professional resume is still in its early stages, her college record provides a clear measure of her impact on the court. Across her five seasons at Colorado, she consistently ranked among the team’s leaders in scoring and rebounding and helped guide the Buffaloes to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in years. Her selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft and her subsequent international appearances further validate her standing as a winning competitor.
WNBA and Professional Highlights
Although Hollingshed has yet to log minutes in a WNBA game, she has been selected to a professional roster with the Greensboro Groove of the UpShot League, marking her entry into salaried professional basketball. Her selection as the 8th overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft remains a defining professional accomplishment, and she has continued to compete at a high level through her work with Puerto Rico’s national team program.
Mya Hollingshed Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Hollingshed comes from a family with deep roots in basketball, most notably through her grandfather, Terry Sykes, who was selected in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. That family connection to the NBA provided her with an early appreciation for the demands and rewards of a professional basketball career. Growing up in Houston, she benefited from that heritage while carving out her own identity as a versatile forward and center.
Personal Life
Mya Hollingshed was born in Houston, Texas, and continues to be recognized as a Puerto Rican professional basketball player through her representation of the Puerto Rico national team. Public information about her personal relationships, marital status, and other private matters is not widely documented, and she appears to keep those aspects of her life largely out of the public eye. Her focus remains on her basketball career and her continued growth as a professional athlete.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 calendar year, Hollingshed’s professional career remained at a crossroads following her 2022 release from the Las Vegas Aces. As of 2025, she had yet to appear in a WNBA game, and her competitive activity was centered on her work with Puerto Rico’s national team, including her standout performance at the 2022 FIBA World Cup. The 2025 period served as a development window in which she continued to refine her game and pursue opportunities to return to top-level professional competition.
The announcement in 2026 that Hollingshed had joined the Greensboro Groove of the UpShot League for their inaugural season reflected the persistence that has defined her post-college journey. Looking back on 2025, it was a year in which she remained a free agent at the WNBA level while staying active internationally and preparing for the next opportunity. Her outlook remains positive, with her combination of size, shooting, and post experience positioning her well for future professional openings.