This Pride Month, we're spotlighting guard Nala Williams, a recent SDSU grad who helped fuel a historic Aztecs season. Williams has been an open member of the LGBTQ+ community while at SDSU.
Before making her way to San Diego, Williams played her first three collegiate seasons at Cal State Dominguez Hills, a school less than 20 miles from her hometown of Long Beach, California.
During her time in Dominguez Hills, she earned numerous accolades including the Women's Basketball Coaches Association DII National Player of the Year, California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Year, CCAA Defensive Player of the Year and DII Conference Commissioners Association West Region Player of the Year.
Williams transferred to SDSU ahead of the 2025-26 season and continued to dominate. During her senior season with the Aztecs, Williams had a best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.51) by an Aztec since 1999, and finished top 10 in the nation for that stat. She also led the Aztecs to a regular season Mountain West title. William’s performance earned her 2025-26 Mountain West Player of the Year, Mountain West All-Defensive Team, and SDSU Female Athlete of the Year honors.
Off the court, Williams is an avid Seattle Storm fan, mental health advocate, and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. She was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, while earning her degree in Communications from SDSU.
Get to know the accomplished SDSU guard from our conversation.
You grew up in Southern California, a very sports-dense area and arguably the home of champions. Who or what inspired you to start playing basketball?
That’s definitely a saying at my school, ‘the home of champions.’ I started playing basketball because of my older brother. He is five years older than me and I was just always around the game of basketball, because he was already in little leagues by the time I was born. I just kind of wanted to be like him and my dad trained both of us. It was really just in the family that started my love for the game.
“I’m so thankful to the game of basketball, because at every level I’ve had a lot of good memories.”
Did you play any other sports besides basketball?
I did! When I was growing up, I was just at Pan Am Park and I played every sport all year long. They had summer, fall, and stuff like that and I was in all of it. I just love sports, but as I got older, I played softball and I played soccer. I think those were the main two and then of course, basketball.
I did not like those other sports. Soccer was a lot of running for little reward and softball just got boring. It’s just a slow-paced game. I chose basketball because it was very fast-paced and exciting and fun.
Do you have any favorite players growing up or players that you looked up to and modeled your game after?
Honestly, on the female side, I looked up to Sue Bird because I’m a Seattle Storm fan. I feel like I try to emulate my game [after Bird] because I feel like we’re a similar height and position. Maya Moore was also a big role model for me growing up. I just loved how [she played] and I think she’s the GOAT [greatest of all time] of basketball in my opinion.
I watch a lot of basketball and I like to say that I’m a student of the game, so Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving on the male side. I looked up to them a lot too and I try to take what I can from each player and still be myself. I will say coming to San Diego State was great, because I love [former Aztec] Kawhi Leonard. I love his game, because he plays both sides of the ball and he’s just a hard working type of guy.
Nala Williams getting ready to play in the West Regional Championship for Cal State Dominguez Hills. (Photo contributed by Nala Williams)
You started and played most of your college career at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where you had great success. What made you choose that school?
My journey to Cal State Dominguez Hills was a little different. I wasn’t planning on going to college my senior year of high school. I was actually going to move to Texas with my mom and I was going to start selling medical insurance, because my auntie has a firm that does that. I was going to kind of give up on basketball in a way, just because I was going through depression during that time of my life. It’s something I like to talk about because I want to give a voice to athletes that go through things like that. We are in such a limelight in the job we do, so it comes with a lot of pressures. I fell victim to feeling those pressures and wanted to not pursue [basketball] anymore.
My senior year, college coaches would kind of contact me and I would tell them that I wasn’t looking for that. I didn’t have any recruitment at all, but Dominguez Hills called me early on. Later on, when I graduated, I wanted to play basketball again. I was just feeling better about life and things and I wanted to take a chance on myself, so I started calling schools back. I called Dominguez Hills and they picked up the phone. We worked out a situation where I was actually on a partial scholarship my first year. They wanted me there and I wanted to be there. It was just like a community as well. They gave me an opportunity, but at the same time it was very family-based and I felt very welcome. Then we were able to do great things after that, which is partially the reason why I stayed so long, because it did feel like family.
In sixth grade, Williams won a championship at Hughes Middle School.
How did you find yourself getting your spark back?
I felt that getting my spark back was understanding that I’m smaller than what I think. What I mean by that is that we can, as human beings, we can get too big headed with our egos and think that we are bigger than what we are. We put pressures on ourselves, but every day, just waking up, that’s a win in my book.
I started thinking more like that and I started letting myself think of basketball as an act of service, and going into the gym and going in with more of a getting better type of attitude. Because we are in a competitive sport, we think that we have to be better than the person next to us a lot of the time or get pushed to compete. That’s ok as long as we’re competing for the greater good of each other. In so many words, I’m trying to say that I started having fun with it. It has blessed me and that’s what I want to continue to do now.
As you may know, June is Pride Month and we wanted to ask you to reflect a bit about it. In January, SDSU Women's Basketball celebrated the LGBTQ+ community with a Pride Game. Can you share what it meant to you personally to play in that Pride Game? Was there a moment during or after it that really stuck with you?
After the game, it definitely stuck with me seeing all the pride representation in Viejas Arena. Also seeing children and their parents being very accepting and having colors. It was just a very loving environment and it felt amazing to participate in the game while I was able to represent people that look like me.
I want people to understand that I am just Nala Williams. I’m being my authentic self … I feel that everyone should be who they are no matter what label. I would say [to people], ‘just be your authentic self.’
Photo Caption: Williams stands at the 3-point-line during a game against Fresno State. Photo Credit: Soleil Dam/@mediabysoleil
After the Pride Game in January, you shared that you’re proud to represent the community as a masculine-presenting woman. What do you want people to understand about that, whether it’s your teammates, fans, or anyone in the community?
I want people to understand that I am just Nala Williams. I’m being my authentic self in wearing the type of clothes that I decide to wear and deciding what type of hairstyles I like to have. I feel that everyone should be who they are no matter what label. I would say [to people] “just be your authentic self.”
How has your team supported you and has that changed how you showed up as a player and leader?
My team has been very supportive of me. I think especially this year coming and being a new face around people that were already here. It was really nice. It was like a warm welcoming and I was very appreciative and for them to be able to accept my leadership and for them to teach me different things. I was just happy that I was accepted for who I was and didn’t have to shape shift to anything else.
Williams cutting down the net after securing regular season conference championship at SDSU. Credit: San Diego State
As your collegiate career comes to an end, what are some of your favorite memories here at SDSU?
Cutting down the nets after our Fresno State game [that clinched Mountain West title] has to be number one, and senior night against Wyoming. Those are my favorite days in Viejas Arena.
Do you have any goals or plans going into your post-graduate career?
I do have plans! I signed with an agency so I can go play overseas basketball. I’ll be leaving later in September, around that time. I’m excited to see what professional basketball has in store for me.
I’m kind of just going for it and whatever is the best offer for my situation. We don’t get offers until a little bit later into the next month, so I don’t know yet. I’m just open.
As you move into the next chapter of your career, is representing the LGBTQ+ community something that you see as a part of your identity as an athlete?
Yes, because it is a part of my identity as a human and it will always be.
Do you ever feel a pressure to carry that or is it something you feel that you do authentically?
I’m personally blessed to have a family where it wasn’t a barrier for me to come out and be my authentic self. I never had to deal with those aspects that a lot of people in my community do have to deal with. For me, it has been smooth sailing I’d say, but I know that for people in my community, it’s not always the same.
As Williams gets ready to begin her international playing career, we are wishing her luck at Her Sports and will be cheering her on from San Diego!
Top Website Photo by Soleil Dam/@mediabysoleil
