Our Mission
The Hoopers Collective is always striving to evolve, connect, and empower the women’s basketball game in San Diego by providing an inclusive space for players of all skill levels to thrive both on and off the court.
We are dedicated to fostering personal and professional growth, health, and wellness while promoting a vibrant basketball culture through diverse events, training, and mentorship programs.
Meet the Team
Sarah Porter
President
Sarah Porter is a passionate advocate for both education and basketball, combining these fields to create lasting impact. In 2022, she co-founded The Hoopers Collective with Mailoni Henson and later rebranded it with Abigail Leaupepe-Tele to provide a holistic and inclusive experience for female hoopers. Whether athletes aim to elevate their game or simply enjoy playing for fun, The Hoopers Collective offers a supportive community.
Sarah's college basketball journey began at Ole Miss before she transferred to UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology and set the Big West 3-point record by hitting 9 of 11 shots in a single game. She continued her education and athletic career at the University of Utah, earning a master’s degree in education. While at Utah, she finished in the top 4 for Pac-12 3-point percentage, shooting 41%, and tied the school record with 8 made 3-pointers in a game.
Beyond her playing career, Sarah is committed to uniting the hooper community and revitalizing hoop culture in San Diego. She trains and mentors youth athletes, drawing from her experience at the NBA Summer League. In her professional life, Sarah serves as an Education Specialist at a local law firm and a Team Attendant for the San Diego Clippers.
Abigail Leaupepe-Tele
Vice-President
Abigail brings a wealth of experience to her coaching career, most recently serving as an assistant coach at Point Loma Nazarene University during the 2023-2024 season, an NCAA Division II program. Before that, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Texas A&M-Commerce, where she also played basketball and competed in track & field during her undergraduate years. While at Texas A&M-Commerce, Abigail took on multiple roles, including camp director, travel coordinator, fundraiser, academic counselor, and position coach, demonstrating her dedication and versatility.
After pursuing a career in property management and real estate, Abigail returned to coaching as the JV head coach at Patrick Henry High School for the 2022-23 season. Passionate about giving back to the San Diego community where she grew up, she is committed to mentoring and empowering the next generation of athletes.
Tiffini Stone
LA Ambassador
Tiffini Stone is a former NCAA Division 1 athlete with a background in mental health advocacy and prison reform. While she did not play collegiate basketball, she ran Division 1 track at UC Riverside and graduated with honors and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She spent many summers coaching her old high school girls’ basketball Freshman and JV teams, and after 2 season-ending injuries running track and field, she began playing basketball again. Her passion for the game found her competing against women in top Pro-am leagues in Los Angeles like the Women’s Drew League and T-Ware Pro-Am League.
Beyond her career as an athlete, Tiffini is committed to empowering all female athletes within and beyond the game in all aspects. In her professional life, Tiffini serves as an executive assistant, managing the life of a top artist in the entertainment industry meanwhile volunteering her time in local prisons running basketball clinics for those incarcerated.
Rachel Nagel
Youth Director
Rachel Nagel is the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Pacific Ridge and Co-Director for Nike US Sports Camps and Snow Valley Basketball School. She has also served as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego and UC Davis.
In her role as an assistant coach, Nagel focused on offensive strategies and player development. Her work helped Toreros achieve a third-place finish in the West Coast Conference and advance to the third round of the WNIT in her first season.
As a player at UC Davis from 2014 to 2018, Nagel scored over 1,000 points with a 41.9% shooting percentage from three-point range. She also contributed to back-to-back Big West Regular Season Conference Championships and helped her team reach the WNIT Sweet Sixteen in 2017 and the Elite Eight the following season.
Rachel Nagel joined The Hoopers Collective with the goal of expanding girls basketball in San Diego and surrounding areas. Her vision to provide elite-level training, empower young athletes, and serve as a mentor aligns with the organization’s ideals.
Courtney Thrun
Marketing Coordinator