Myriam Koné has been a standout name early on in the 2025/2026 campaign. Over her USports Career, she has seen a steady increase in her averages across the board, gaining Canada West Second and Third team honours in her last two seasons. She has been an essential reason for TMU’s undefeated run so far. We had the privilege of chatting with her.
Through her high school years, Myriam praises Coach Burke from Harry Ainlay, for pushing her to become the best version of herself. Further, she gives credit to Ryan Bhalla (GoodHoops) for her growth as an athlete. Following high school, Myriam committed to the University of Calgary, where she spent three seasons; taking them to a second place finish last year. This year, she joins a powerhouse squad at TMU.
On the court, Myriam has steadily improved her scoring each season since her rookie year. She credits that growth to consistent effort and reflection. “After my first year, I knew I had to do more,” she said. “It was tough mentally going from high school to university, where you have to start over. I spent time in the gym, watched film, and worked on the areas where I could make an impact.”
Her speed was something she could rely on early, but she began building other elements into her game. “In my second year, I shot the ball better, especially from three,” she said. “Then that summer I really focused on my mid-range game.” Watching Nate Petrone, she picked up footwork techniques and practiced them all off-season. That work showed in her third year.
More recently, she’s focused on becoming more efficient and improving her assist-to-turnover ratio. “That’s still something I’m not satisfied with,” she said. “Every year, I try to add something new and keep refining parts of my game. But overall, I want to do what helps the team win.”
For players entering the university level, Myriam understands how challenging the transition can be. “Most people come from high school as the main option. Then you get here and you’re not touching the ball as much,” she said. Her advice is to choose a program where your playing style fits. “That was a big reason I went to Calgary. They played fast, and that matched my strengths.”
She also highlighted the importance of staying focused and being productive, even in short stretches of play. “Sometimes I wasn’t even seventh in the rotation. And when I did get minutes, I was nervous. But one of my teammates told me, ‘Just try to impact the game however you can.’ That stuck with me.”
She found that even small plays — a rebound, a defensive stop, a clean pass — can earn trust. “Coaches notice what you do after mistakes. If you turn the ball over, how do you respond?”
She also spent time learning from teammates, especially players with strong decision-making skills. One of them, Mackenzie Trpcic, had a level of court awareness that stood out. “I’d watch her when I wasn’t playing, just seeing how she made reads,” she said. “Even if I wasn’t in the game, I needed to know the plays well enough to help my teammates if they asked.”
That approach helped her stay involved and ready for her opportunity. Asking questions, studying film, and working with her trainer, Dante Dinter, were also key steps in her development. “He’s coaching now at RDP, but he worked with me back home, helping me refine things like my shot, which I really needed to improve early on.”
She also credits her parents for instilling a consistent work ethic. “They always told me if you work hard and stay consistent, things will open up. I still believe that.” For her, that’s remained a core principle throughout her journey.
At the university level, she sees the difference between players as mostly mental. “Skill-wise, most guards are close. What makes the difference is how you handle mistakes, whether you stay locked in, and if you take advantage of the chances you get.”
She’s experienced all of that first-hand. Whether it was watching the rotation ahead of her or staying late in the gym, Myriam has found ways to grow in each season and contribute when her number is called. That is a significant reason for her success to this day.
