ATHERTON, CA – Menlo College star Kiara Brown has officially signed a professional basketball contract with AD Vagos, one of Portugal's premier basketball clubs in the Portuguese Liga Feminina de Basquetebol. This exciting move marks the next step in Brown's impressive basketball journey, following a standout collegiate career that has left a mark inside Haynes-prim Pavilion.

During her four years at Menlo College, Brown established herself as a dominant force in the Golden State Athletic Conference. In her final season, she averaged a team-high 16.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Her exceptional performances saw her rank among the top five in the GSAC in total points, total rebounds, points per game, and rebounds per game. Brown's outstanding contributions were instrumental in Menlo's success in 2023-24. During the Oaks regular season, they tied their program best with an 11-game winning streak, ultimately solidifying a #2 seed in the GSAC post season. Under her leadership, Menlo also secured a #5 seed in the NAIA National Tournament and advanced to the Final 16 in Sioux City, Iowa.

In recognition of her efforts, Brown was named to the GSAC All-Conference team and earned NAIA All-American honors for the third consecutive year, capping off a fantastic career as an Oak. On top of that, Kiara is a mainstay in the Menlo Athletics Women's Basketball record book holding the #1 spot in single-season points, #2 in single-season points per game, and #5 in single-season rebounds. Career wise, Brown is in the top 5 of every offensive stat category there is, putting in a good argument as one of the best Women's Basketball players Menlo has ever seen!   

"When I first made my decision to play at the professional level with AD Vagos, I was filled with gratitude thinking about my support system", Brown says, "My parents have been with me every step of the way during my basketball career. My teammates and coaches at Menlo have each pushed me to become the player that I am today. Coach Shannon and Jess have been important mentors to me during my time at Menlo".

Kiara Brown's move to AD Vagos represents a significant milestone in her basketball career. Brown will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on the court in Portugal. Kiara will have a familiar opponent to face in the Liga Feminina as Melissa Akullu from Vanguard is also on her way to Portugal to compete in the 2024-25 season. Kiara mentioned, "It is so cool to get to face a conference rival.