SAIPAN (Northern Mariana Islands) - Growing up in Saipan, a close‑knit island community of just over 40,000 people and the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, E’Anna Won never imagined she would one day play professional basketball. In fact, her childhood interests lay more in dancing than on the basketball court.
Today, the 24-year-old guard is preparing for a new chapter with Cheongju KB Stars in South Korea's Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL), after being selected fifth overall in the 2026 draft.
As the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, Won's journey is a reminder that talent and opportunity can emerge from even the smallest island communities, and that the encouragement of others can change the course of a young girl's life.
For Won, basketball was never part of a carefully mapped-out plan. Her aunt first introduced her and her sister to basketball in Alaska before the moved to Ohio and then Saipan, and it was her mother who ensured they continued playing.
"Without these two women, basketball wouldn't have been such a big part of my life," Won said. "I probably wouldn't have played at all."
What began as a childhood activity developed into a passion that carried her through college basketball, although playing professionally was never her initial ambition. Throughout college, Won had envisioned a career in engineering, but as her time on the court came to an end, she realised she wasn't ready to leave the sport behind.
"After my last college game, I decided that I didn't want to be done with basketball just yet."
Inspired by the countless hours she and her father, who was her first coach, had invested in the sport, Won chose to continue pursuing basketball, a decision that ultimately led her to South Korea and the professional stage.
"There are still times when I just pause and think, 'Wow, my full-time job is to play basketball in Korea.'"
Although her basketball journey has taken her far beyond the Northern Mariana Islands, Won has never forgotten where she comes from.
In 2022, she represented the Northern Mariana Islands at the FIBA Women's Micronesia Cup in Guam, helping her national team secure a silver medal. She averaged 18.5 points and 15 rebounds per game earning All-Star Five honours alongside her sister, Ky'Sonna.
Yet beyond her achievements on the court, representing her Chamorro heritage holds a deeper meaning.
I always feel immense pride whenever I would see an islander being mentioned on the news or in social media for their accomplishments. I love being able to share that there are Chamorros from a small chain of islands who are being recognised.
The strong sense of community she experienced growing up in Saipan continues to shape her life abroad. "Everyone took care of each other like a big family," Won said.
Moving to South Korea, far from her family, was a significant adjustment. However, basketball provided a familiar sense of belonging, with teammates looking out for one another both on and off the court.
While reaching the professional stage is a remarkable achievement, Won is open about the challenges that come with competing at the highest level.
"I've gone through many moments of self-doubt and wondering if I'm even good enough to be where I am at. Those thoughts don't stop once you reach the professional stage."
For Won, learning to overcome those doubts has become an essential part of her development. "To be able to push yourself past those doubts and through all the hardships is what gets you to the next level."
Her journey demonstrates that strength is not simply measured by performance, but also by the courage to continue when the path ahead is uncertain.
Won is becoming the role model she once admired. Raised with a strong sense of Chamorro pride, she hopes her achievements will inspire others from her island community.
“I’m incredibly honoured to now be someone others can look up to. I hope to inspire other athletes from the island and show them that, with hard work, competing at the professional level is possible. If I can do it, I know other young Chamorro girls and boys can too.”
Won's journey highlights the power of opportunity, encouragement and representation. From the women who first inspired her to the young girls she now hopes to empower; Her journey is a powerful reminder that where you come from does not define how far you can go.