Throughout her Cal Poly Women’s Basketball career, Annika Shah faced many obstacles. From height disadvantages to a torn ACL and people doubting her, her journey was not a walk in the park.
Despite these challenges, Shah defied the odds.
“Push for your dreams, because that’s exactly what I did,” Shah said.
Shah, a four-year point guard for the Mustangs, signed with the London Lions to continue her athletic career. She credits her success to the leadership she learned throughout her time as a Mustang.
Shah broke the franchise record for most three-pointers in a single game after making eight in her first appearance with the Lions.
Going pro overseas
Shah had a consistent goal of wanting to continue her basketball career overseas throughout her time at Cal Poly. Just two months after graduation, Shah got the opportunity of a lifetime and fulfilled this lifelong dream.
On Aug. 19, the London Lions posted on Instagram officially welcoming Shah to the team.
“It was a surreal experience,” Shah said. “Obviously, getting an agent and that whole process takes a bit, so when I was finally able to accept and sign my contract with the London Lions it was a bit of a relief.”
Moving overseas involves an immense amount of adjustment and can be stressful early in the process.
There are new customs to learn and an eight hour time difference between London and San Luis Obispo that can cause a rough transition when trying to adapt to a new lifestyle.
Shah’s experience was no exception.
“Coming over here was really hard because this is the furthest I’ve been from home,” Shah said. “It was hard for my parents and brother as well, but I know through this experience I’m just going to grow as a person. So, continuing to push through some of the hard days where you miss home, it’s going to make it a lot more worth it in the long run.”
Shah did not let the challenging transition stop her from fully immersing herself in this new chapter of her life.
While San Luis Obispo is a big town, being at Cal Poly can feel like a small community. Moving to London meant she had to learn how to live the big city life in a population of 8.9 million people rather than SLO’s 50,000.
“I’m a huge believer that if you work hard, everything’s going to work out in the end,” Shah said. “I couldn’t be more happy to be in such an amazing city like this, playing for such an amazing team that has history and hopefully we’re going to bring that winning culture back this year.”
A memorable Cal Poly career
Throughout her time at Cal Poly, Shah was known as a powerhouse on the court. Despite having a height disadvantage measuring 5-foot-3, Shah became one of the best Cal Poly Women’s Basketball players and the 16th athlete in Cal Poly history to surpass 1,000 points.
Her growth throughout her time as a Mustang was evident. Her freshman year she averaged four points per game, and her season high was 11 points.
By her senior year, Shah was averaging 13.1 points per game and played a total of 1,037 minutes in her final year with the Mustangs.
Not only was Shah a standout player, but she took pride in being a remarkable leader and teammate as a two-year captain.
“I just want to be the best teammate and best person for my coaches and the people that I’m playing with,” Shah said.
Her teammates saw her leadership abilities and valued her dedication to being the best player she could be for the team and the sport.
The team averaged 57.6 points per game in the 24-25 season with the guidance of Shah.
“She was a vocal leader for us,” Shah’s four-year teammate Sydney Bourland said. “When the team was down, she would always be able to bring the energy up.”
While she was recruited by a different coaching staff, Shah decided to stick around for the transition early on in her career when Shanele Stires was named head coach in 2022.
While this change posed some challenges, it did not diminish Shah’s love for San Luis Obispo.
“I’m just really proud to be a Mustang and I miss SLO so much,” Shah said. “I miss the beach, but you know, I’ll be back soon.”
Although Shah is no longer playing for the Mustangs, there is no doubt that she left behind a legacy that will be felt both in the record books and the next generation of Cal Poly Women’s Basketball.
“Annika left her mark on Cal Poly women’s basketball with her ability to be a good teammate and leadership and with the new Stires era, she definitely helped get that started,” Bourland said.
A bright future in London
In her first season with the Lions, Shah has endless opportunities to build new skills and develop herself as an athlete.
The Lions are in the midst of climbing their way through the rankings of European Women’s basketball. In 2024, they won the EuroCup, claiming the title of the first British basketball team to clinch a European championship.
“I think this year is a big learning opportunity as a rookie,” Shah said. “Ultimately, I want to continue to try and push myself to play at a higher level.”
In the long run, Shah is looking towards the opportunity to advance in her career and keep climbing the professional ladder.
After impressing her coaching staff, team, Mustang fans and the SLO community for four years, she aspires to carry this momentum into her overseas career.
Shah hopes to push herself this season and prove that she can play at a higher level. She is looking to reach the EuroCup and EuroLeague to play for the highest league in Europe, and has already added to her statistics claiming the single-game three point record for the Lions.
“I’m just chasing the right culture fit for me,” Shah said. “Ultimately, yes, I do want to go higher, but you never really know what’s going to happen. The best thing you can do is just continue to live in the moment and embrace every single day and work really, really hard and the opportunities will come.”