By: Émilie Leger
GoRhody.com staff
 
"I'd define success as feeling free."
 
Tenin Magassa, a 6'5" center left France in 2020 to pursue basketball in the American collegiate athletic world. It wasn't always a clear-cut decision; she was unsure at first about finishing her studies after the baccalaureate. Magassa was interested in the idea of coming to play in the United States, and when the opportunity to get a degree while also playing the sport she loved came up, she thought, why not?
 
Before her time at the University of Rhode Island, Magassa began her career with the University of Dayton. Her freshman year she earned Atlantic 10 Sixth Woman of the Year honors, Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors, and led her team with rebounds per game. After her sophomore season, she moved into fifth all-time blocks in Dayton program history. After just two years, she tallied 113 blocks in 50 games.
 
After her sophomore season at Dayton, she decided to enter the transfer portal.
 
"In the beginning, it was quite complicated. I'm already shy, and the fact that I couldn't express myself the way I wanted to because I was struggling a bit with the [English] language, it was quite complicated, but I was very well surrounded ... especially at Dayton."
 
In the U.S., most times students are required to study one language in middle or high school, and occasionally to meet credits, students will study one more semester while at university.
 
These women have been learning and speaking the English language for years.
 
In European countries, it is typical to study the English language alongside another language, not including their mother tongue. In primary school, around six years old, they begin to learn English, heading into secondary school, the students continue English studies, but also are required to add another language. When these students enter their high school years, it is mandatory to continue studying two languages, and some people will add an extra. When these students reach university, in general, English is the most common language studied, and a second language study is optional but not required.
 
It is more typical to meet international students who speak two or more languages than those who only speak their native language. Some of the language options are but are not limited to: Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
 
Before attending Dayton in 2020, she had never stepped foot in the United States.
 
"My first two years in Dayton were wonderful ... as far as the food is concerned, I cook a lot, now a lot less, but at the beginning I used to cook a lot because I didn't necessarily like the food here... you could say I got used to it."
 
Typical French foods like baguettes, croissants, and authentic French cheeses are Magassa's favorites, things that do exist in the United States… but not the authentic ones.
 
Imagine leaving everything you've ever known to chase your dreams – and doing it in another country in another language.
 
Imagine adapting to a new culture with different food, different social norms, and a different way of life.
 
This is exactly what all of these incredible women did: Mayé Touré, Ines Debroise, Hawa Komara, Sophie Sene, Tenin Magassa, and Anaelle Dutat. And thousands more across the nation.
 
Now imagine adapting to this new culture in a state within the host country, and then having to do it all over again.
 
This is exactly what Tenin Magassa did.
 
After settling down at Dayton for half of her collegiate years, she realized she needed something different.

After adapting to life in Dayton, Ohio, she was headed to the Ocean State.
 
With the help of Associate Head Coach Adeniyi Amadou, Magassa played in her first season with the Rams during the 2022-23 season.
 
The women's basketball coaching staff at the University of Rhode Island was what truly stood out to her. It was learning from Adeniyi Amadou, Tammi Reiss, Megan Shoniker, Takima Keane, Cory Macchioni, Stefan Wasilewski, as well as the support staff. Her relationship with Associate Head Coach Adeniyi Amadou was the foundation for her home-away-from-home.
 
"My mom was very happy, and proud of me, everyone was happy, including my brothers and sisters. I've been here for 4 years now, so it's a bit complicated not to be at home, not to see them, because I miss them a lot, but they were happy. I still don't know where it's going to take me, but they're proud of me."
  
She has played in almost 50 games for Rhode Island and amassed nearly 80 blocks.
 
Her junior year, the first year joining the Rams, she put up 18 blocks, 71 points, and 50 rebounds.
 
Her senior year, the 2023-24 season, she more than doubled those numbers. Magassa amassed over 50 blocks, over 200 points, and over 130 rebounds this past season.
 
Magassa grew up in Morsang-Sur-Orge, France, just outside of Paris, she the eldest of two brothers and three sisters, they live with their parents. Her mother is her biggest support and inspiration.
 
 "[My mother] gives so much of herself, she's sacrificed a lot. Honestly, I'm a complicated person, I was a complicated child and I'm still complicated today. And when I see how she gives herself, how she's been able to suffer, that inspires me."
 
Her parents immigrated from Mali, growing up in France wasn't just growing up in French culture, but also experiencing and learning Malian culture, the culture of her parents.
 
"It's a lot of service to others, giving of yourself, respecting the people around you. I think there are positives and negatives. Malian culture is about respecting your elders and always giving yourself. Honestly, it never stops, you can always give yourself in different ways all the time."
 
After four years away from home, she says she has begun to identify a bit with American culture as well as the cultures of France and Mali.
 
"Coming to the United States opened up my horizons in terms of cultures... I don't know which one I identify with most, but I'm open to all cultures and I like to learn."
 
Before coming to the states, she had previously played alongside Mayé Touré, Ines Debroise, and Sophie Sene.
 
But what is it like coming to a different country and playing with the people who know the game the way you do? The cultural differences, mindset differences, and game rules, how do those go into shaping a new team and molding a program?
 
"It's a different experience to be completely immersed in an all-American team."
 
"The positive side is that I can express myself much more easily and it's good to speak French sometimes, and there are two cultures, it's cool, it's refreshing I'd say. On the negative side, I'd say it's not always easy to create cohesion, because there are a lot of internationals and Americans, and sometimes it's hard to create that cohesion."

Regardless of the challenges, Magassa says she has met and grown alongside incredible people during her time here, "I'm grateful to have met them."

There is so much more to these basketball players than what they produce on the court or how they appear, they are way more than what meets the eye.
 
Tenin Magassa is more than what she has been able to accomplish on the court, more than the awards that she has earned, and more than the numbers that got her into program record books.
 
Her calm demeanor can come off as introverted or intimidating, but she leads a peaceful life. She spends her free time in her room, watching films, going to the cinema, walking, and cooking.
 
"Above all, peace is about being surrounded by people who want the best for me, with whom I feel comfortable and free. Especially when I feel like listening to myself, doing something and when I have projects in mind, putting actions in place and listening to myself and being well surrounded. That's what keeps me at peace."
 
In her free time, Magassa loves to take photos. Over the past year she got into sports photography, she works with Michaela Benford in URI Media Relations department.
 
"I'd say there are a lot of things I'd like people to know about me, but then I find it hard to open up and say what's inside."
 
"I can come across as cold or distant with my teammates, and I know that's been the case this year, but one of the things I'd like people to know about me is that I think at first glance I can be a little scary to some people because of my size, my skin color or whatever, but I don't bite very hard."
 
At first glance all you see is an athlete. Maybe you know 'they're from France'.
 
When you decide to truly get to know these women, you learn the incredible challenges they have faced, how hard they work, and the things that make them uniquely who they are.
 
Close to her sociology degree, Magassa says the study of social life, social change, and human behavior hasn't necessarily helped her adjusting to living in the United States and American culture, but rather it has helped her adjusting to humans in general.
 
To her, French culture is the food and the idea that the French are tough. One stereotype she has encountered regarding the French culture are that all French are rude, but it is not fair to categorize all French people that way.
 
"Not everyone is rude, I personally am not rude, and I know many other people who are not. But it's true that the French are much more, I don't know if you could say self-centered, but we're less friendly with others, less open."
 
Social norms and underlying ideals that are common to those who grew up within one culture, can come as a shock of a difference to students from other cultures. What is seen as friendly to some, can also be seen as intrusive to others.
 
There are no worldwide norms.
 
Magassa keeps in touch with French culture by watching French series or films, as well as calling her family and friends.
 
"Coming here to Rhode Island, it's definitely easier to keep in touch with French culture with the other teammates from France."
 
Magassa just finished her senior season for the Rams.
  
"I think everything happens for a reason, even when it's hard to understand what the reason is. I think everything happens for a reason, whether it's a good reason or a bad reason. You always have to hold your head high and keep moving forward, even if it seems impossible, because it is possible."