One of UVU's most decorated women's basketball players got an early birthday present this year. Former Utah Valley University point guard Mariah Seals signed a contract with the North Adelaide Rockets of the Premier League in Australia, putting her name on the dotted line on Jan. 12, just one day before her birthday.
 
She'll leave for Australia on Thursday, Valentine's Day, to play the sport she loves. The season begins in March and runs through July.
 
"Because of Mariah's passion, hard work and sacrifice she is now playing professional basketball," said UVU head coach Cathy Nixon. "She is such a great example of having a dream and working to make it come true. She had an amazing college basketball career at UVU, graduated as a four-year Academic All-WAC honoree and now is accomplishing her goal of playing professionally. We are so proud of her and know that she can reach whatever goal she sets for herself."
 
Seals connected with her future head coach after working out during last summer, playing open gyms and staying ready should an opportunity arise.
 
"I was extremely excited because I had been working all summer to stay prepared," said Seals. "I've been playing basketball since I was six years old. It began at Stege Elementary in my hometown of Richmond, California. I've always believed that I had the potential to be elite because I fell in love with the game the moment I picked up a basketball."
 
Seals is the Wolverines' career leader in games played and ranks third all-time with 1,513 career points after a successful four-year career that spanned 2014-18. Her 200 made 3-pointers is also a UVU career record.
 
"UVU came as an unexpected blessing to me because coming where I'm from, no one really knew exactly how things were supposed to go to give me the best opportunity. I was still playing AAU when coaches Jason Glover and Adam Wardenburg (both former UVU assistants) discovered me at a tournament in Oregon in 2014. They immediately became my favorite people," Seals said.
 
The 2014-15 WAC Freshman of the Year and All-Newcomer Team selection, Seals averaged 11.5 points per game and scored more points each season she played. She was a two-time All-WAC second team selection during her career, including after scoring a career-best 14.1 points per game as a senior.
 
"(Another former assistant) coach Liz Darger was also one of my favorites. They all did so much for me emotionally and helped improve my skillset. I am extremely grateful to them that they all saw potential in me. They truly took a chance on a girl from the small city of Richmond. I will never take their vision for granted. I would like to thank everyone from the UVU family who believed in me and supported me throughout my four years," Seals said.  
 
Seals played her high school career at Miramonte High School in Orinda, California where she was All-League as a prep player.
 
"I also would like to thank my high school coach Kelly Sopak. He's always believed in me and I'm very grateful for that as well," Seals said.