Alisha Little poses with her daughter, Genesis Little, at the 2024–2025 CSU Pueblo women’s basketball media day. (Photo by Ashlyn Drury)
Faith, family, and focus; the three key factors to Alisha Little’s success.
Through life’s unexpected surprises, the superstar Colorado State University women’s basketball player has turned to God and her support system to face adversity. As an All-American athlete turned mother and future nurse, Little strives for success wherever life takes her.
Little had a unique upbringing. Daughter of Monique and Andra Davis, a former NFL player, her childhood was spent relocating around the country. Born in Florida while her father played for the Florida Gators, Little’s journey moving began in 2002 when the Cleveland Browns selected Davis in the fifth round of the NFL draft. After the first eight years of her life in Ohio, her dad was traded to the Denver Broncos for the 2009 season. In his last year playing in the NFL, the family relocated to Buffalo, N.Y. When his career ended, Little’s family decided to settle down in Colorado. Alisha didn’t know it at the time, but she would later become a household name for women’s basketball within the state.
With the upbringing that Little had, there was no doubt that sports would become a part of her life. Coming from a competitive family, her parents encouraged her and her two younger sisters, Amber and Andrea, to play a sport to stay active and healthy. It wasn’t until Little and her family settled down in Colorado that she consistently played on a team.
In sixth grade, Little began playing basketball, and as she stated, “wasn’t very good at it.” But starting on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, she built and developed a passion for the game. Even at a young age, Little understood the dedication and time that went into being an athlete.
In seventh grade, she transitioned to playing for a competitive club team, EJ Hoops, named after and coached by NBA star Ervin Johnson. Playing on this team until her junior year of high school, Little explained how significant it was for her as an athlete:
“Playing on this team was essential for my skill development and is a big part of where I am as a basketball player today.” However, the skills and experiences were not just handed to her. Little had to sacrifice her social life, time with siblings, friends, and family to become the best athlete that she could be.
In middle school, she also did track and field, however she didn’t take it very seriously. To her, it was just a sport to keep her in shape for the basketball season and keep her active to maintain her health.
When high school rolled around, Little attended Grandview in Aurora, Colo. At the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Class 5A (now 6A) school, she was one of approximately 1,800 students in the 2019 graduating class. Attending a high-level academic and athletic high school set Little up for future success.
At Grandview, she was on the girls basketball team and did track and field. The double-threat did it all, and she excelled at it. When she started high school, the competition elevated, and so did her performance in both track and basketball. Playing alongside other EJ Hoops players, Little dominated on the court. Inspired by her older teammate, Michaela Onyenwere, who went on to play college basketball at UCLA and now for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (NBA), Little pushed herself to be a great competitor and student athlete.
“She was a role model for me while I was there (at Grandview). She showed me what it looks like to be successful and still remain humble through everything,” Little stated.
As a sophomore, Little took part in making history with the 2016-2017 girls basketball team, winning the CHSAA 5A state title. Being the first basketball title team in Grandview history, it wasn’t long before she enjoyed championship victory again, as the team girls track and field won the state title that same year. As a four-year, double-sport varsity athlete, Little played on three state title teams (two girls basketball, one team track) and won the state title in the high jump.
“Honestly, I didn’t see myself as this great player in high school,” stated Little. Her stats say otherwise. In her high school career, she averaged 10.1 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 1.9 steals per game, and 1.7 assists per game. These stats led her to be named to the All-State team her senior year (2019), first team All-League 2019 and 2018, and All-State honorable mention 2018. With a record like that, Little was bound to play at the collegiate level. When she began the process looking for her dream university, she had offers from big name schools, which validated her skills and whole experience as an athlete. But not wanting to go too far from her family, Little chose to attend the University of Northern Colorado to play at the NCAA Div. I level.
After graduating from Grandview in 2019, she moved to Greeley, Colo., to become a collegiate student-athlete.
In her two seasons with the Bears, Little excelled on the court. In the 2019-2020 season, she led the women’s basketball team in points as a freshman, averaging 12.7 points per game, just slightly above her high school stats. Making history yet again, Little set the NCAA Div. I record for rebounds in a single season having a total of 225 her freshman year, averaging 7.3 per game. The list doesn’t end there. In the same season, she recorded 68 blocks, putting her on the podium as the fourth all-time in Div. I. In her sophomore season, Little was named Big Sky MVP, having stats leading in six categories; scoring, field goals, blocks, double-doubles, steals and rebounds.
The list of achievements goes on and on. Well, as an athlete they did.
Majoring in pre-nursing with the goal of becoming a nurse, Little was not excelling in her academics as she was on the court. She was so used to having resources as an athlete. However, the resources were not there on the academic side. When academic advisors were suggesting Little switch her major into something that she was not interested in, that is when she knew a change needed to be made. It was hard to leave behind the team and bonds that she formed. However, when her goals of graduating debt-free with a degree in nursing did not align with the resource and financial support that UNC was willing to provide, she entered into the transfer portal.
Although looking for a change, reflecting back on her time at UNC, Little’s experience was filled with accomplishments, friendships, bonds, and best of all, meeting her now husband, Malcolm Little.
When Little entered the portal, big Div. I universities’ were looking to add her to their rosters, and while the big names caught her eye, this family girl wanted to stay in Colorado near her family. At this point, she was not looking for the superstar athletic program, but her focus was on nursing programs. Looking for a school to check off all of the boxes, Colorado State University Pueblo caught Little’s eye. Not only did it have everything she wanted, but it had a couple of bonuses. Little was already familiar with CSU Pueblo head coach Tommie Johnson as she played at Grandview and EJ Hoops with his daughter, Tomia Johnson. Along with having that connection, Malcolm also had transferred to CSU Pueblo.
In Little’s first season with the ThunderWolves, she surpassed expectations. Averaging 16.6 points per game, 51 season steals, 74 season blocks, and 25 season assists, Little helped lead the women’s basketball team to success. Season team highlights include a 23-9 overall season record, RMAC Tournament runner-ups, and a spot to play in the NCAA South Central Regional final. With a performance as outstanding as hers, Little was named several 2021-2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) awards, including one time Offensive Player of the Week, four time Defensive Player of the Week, First-Team All-RMAC, RMAC All-Tournament Team, D2CAA First-Team All-South Central Region, and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American.
Returning for the 2022-2023 season, Little was eager to top the season before, but God had different plans in store. Just a short time before the season started, Little found out that her and Malcolm were expecting a precious baby girl. This news brought a whirlwind of emotions for the two. While they were both excited, the journey to motherhood resulted in setbacks for the young couple.
“I had to sit out of basketball that season. I would say on the nursing side of it and the education side, there were setbacks there as well. Everything kind of happened at the same time and it was just a lot going on,” stated Little. Instead of letting unexpected news throw her off track, she pursued her bachelor’s degree in health science and went with the accelerated path to complete her nursing degree. With just two classes left to complete, Little is closer and closer each day to pursuing her dream career.
When it came to basketball, Little was on a team full of future aunties and had endless support from her teammates and her coaches.
“I would say, the coaches were super supportive. Obviously, it wasn’t a part of the plan for any of us, but they never made me feel like I was a disappointment or I let them down in any type of way. It was the opposite. Everybody was saying how excited they were, and how, you know, they would just be there for me throughout the whole process, and they did that,” Little said.
Despite finding out she was pregnant, no one could get Little off of the court that easily. She continued to practice until she was told by everyone that she wasn’t allowed to anymore. She took a step back around 20 weeks pregnant, but she tried to stay active as long as she could.
Despite the emotional and physical changes that pregnancy has on the woman’s body, Little knew that she would be returning to play as soon as she could.
“There were times where I doubted whether I would be able to, given the shape that I was in and the way that my body was feeling during that first postpartum stage. But like I said, the coaches were super-supportive. Teammates, my parents, Malcolm, my husband, just everybody was cheering me on and trying to motivate me. And so I would say that really pushed me through that period where I was kinda doubting myself,” Little shared.
While all of the support has impacted Little, there is nothing like experiencing it with your partner. “Having him through this entire journey, it’s been life-changing. I don’t know if I’d be able to do all this without him. Definitely, I don’t think I would be able to. My parents play a huge part in everything, and they’re super-supportive, but it’s different when you have your partner there to push you and support you and reassure you.”
Malcolm and Alisha welcomed their baby girl, Genesis, into the world on Feb. 27, 2023. Despite just giving birth, the support and drive that Little had allowed her to return to play in the 2023-2024 season. Having her baby near at practices and games, Little was no longer just playing for herself, but now playing for her daughter. Contrary to Little’s belief, her postpartum shape did not affect her performance. When she returned to play, she had a record-breaking season. More than doubling her assists in a single season from her last in 2021-2022, she had 56 in comparison to 25. To add on her performance, Little had 60 steals for the season and averaged 20.8 points per game, with 664 for the season. She earned herself a total of 19 honors and awards including breaking records. Little’s 2023-2024 honors include; two time RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, seven time RMAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-RMAC, RMAC All-Tournament Team, World Exposure Report Second-Team All-American, NCAA Division II Statistical Champion (Double-Doubles), NCAA Division II Statistical Champion (Blocked Shots Per Game), First-Team All-Colorado Women’s Collegiate Team, D2CCA Second-Team All-American, WBCA Honorable Mention All-American and D2CCA First-Team All-South Central Region.
With stats like that, one may think it is impossible for Little to get any better, but year after year she improved her skills. While continuing to do well in the accelerated nursing program, this student-athlete is one of the greatest CSU Pueblo athletes of all time. Playing in her final season of collegiate basketball, and potentially basketball forever, Little left her heart on the court. Averaging 24.9 points per game, a total of 723 for the single season, 83 steals, 104 blocks, 42 assists, 88 offensive and 244 defensive rebounds, she left her mark in the Massari Arena. Closing out her collegiate career, Little’s 2024-2025 honors and awards include; RMAC Women’s Basketball Players to Watch List, one time World Exposure Report Division II Player of the Year, three time WBCA/D2CIDA Division II National Player of the Week, one time single RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, four time RMAC Offensive & Defensive Player of the Week, three time Defensive Player of the Week, RMAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-RMAC, RMAC Women’s Basketball All-Academic Honor Roll, D2CCA First-Team All-South Central Region, and most valuable of them all, 2024 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Collegiate Women’s Athlete of the Year.
Little was named the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Collegiate Women’s Athlete of the Year, alongside Heisman Trophy winner and the male award recipient, the University of Colorado football star Travis Hunter.
“I think it’s really cool. It was super unexpected. I honestly didn’t even know it was a thing until they reached out to me, but just being able to be considered or be in that conversation is a blessing in itself. But knowing that everything that I’ve been through and everything this team has accomplished as well as being recognized is really cool,” Little said.
Something to note about Little is even through her own success and accomplishment, she never credits just herself. She credits and highlights her team’s accomplishments as a whole, other players, her coaches, family, and those who helped her get to where she is today.
“Through playing basketball, I would say, the skills that I will always have that I’ve learned from my career is to be resilient, definitely time management, and staying humble through everything and just knowing that everything might not look like you want it to look, but it’s always gonna work out the way that God wants it to. Faith has been big in my life in general, but especially in sports, and just making sure that you always stay grounded. You’re always staying humble. You’re focusing on staying connected to God and just having a great support system and knowing that whatever happens, it’s happening for a reason whether that’s good or bad. Just keep pushing,” she stated.
As she discussed her faith on a deeper level, Little shared the importance of it not only for herself, but for her family and within her marriage.
“My mom made sure that we were always going to church and that we had a basic knowledge of God and Christ. But once I got older and I got to UNC, I actually had a few coaches and teammates that poured into my relationship with Christ. And then once I transferred to CSU Pueblo, I was able to join FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and meet Chance and Kelsey, and I think they were really a vital part of this journey as well. And so now it’s just something that me and Malcolm pursued together, and it’s at our core. We know that at the end of the day, as long as we have God and we’re following his plan and his will, everything will be fine.”
Part of Malcolm’s and Little’s journey with God led them to giving their daughter a biblical name.
As athletics come to an end for Little, the question asked is if her daughter will be following in her footsteps. While it is something she would love, it seems as if Genesis will be deciding her future.
“That’s something me and Malcolm talk about often. We just want her to be able to find her own way in the athletic world. We don’t wanna force her to play basketball or tennis or golf, we just want her to choose something that she’s interested in and she’s passionate about. Even if it’s not sports, maybe she wants to be in choir or play a band instrument. But whatever she wants to do, we’re just gonna support her in that and help her to be the best version that she can be,” Little shared.
