The U.S. Embassy has announced that NBA veteran Anthony Tolliver and WNBA Hall of Famer Sylvia Fowles are visiting Madagascar for a week-long program. This initiative is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Malagasy Basketball Federation. The purpose of the visit is to support youth empowerment through basketball and promote cultural exchange among young people and coaches.
According to the embassy, sports diplomacy is an important part of its mission. "We believe that if we can sweat it out together on the field or court, then we can see eye-to-eye with one another," said a spokesperson for the U.S. government.
Tolliver and Fowles are participating as Sports Envoys recruited by the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Diplomacy Division. As part of their role, they will lead sports clinics, speak at schools, and meet with senior officials to discuss how sport can improve lives and transform communities. The aim is to empower future athletes as leaders.
Anthony Tolliver played 14 seasons in the NBA, including stints with teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns. He is known for his three-point shooting ability, energy on the court, leadership qualities in locker rooms, and adaptability to team needs. Tolliver graduated from Creighton University in 2007 with a finance degree.
Sylvia Fowles has had a distinguished career in women’s basketball worldwide. She earned four Olympic gold medals representing Team USA and won a world championship in 2010. Fowles retired in 2022 as the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder and received several top honors during her career, including Defensive Player of the Year awards, WNBA MVP recognition, and eight All-Star selections. In 2025 she was inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She graduated from Louisiana State University in 2009 with a science degree.