TORONTO — Home isn't always a place; it can be a feeling. For some, this feeling can fade.
After her standout third season with the University of Calgary Dinos,
Myriam Kone looked settled from the outside. She was a starter, a Canada West Second Team All-Star, and a proven key piece to the team. But beneath all of her achievements, something was off. What once felt like home no longer did.
In U SPORTS, transfers often occur quietly. There aren't many headlines or portal buzz, just athletes in search of their new home, filled with uncertainty. Yet for Kone, packing her bags and moving across the country wasn't uncertain, because she had clarity—she was headed to Toronto Metropolitan University to play for the Bold.
When deciding where to look, Kone knew that if she was going to transfer, she wouldn't stay in Alberta. Her path to TMU began when a contact of hers reached out to TMU head coach
Carly Clarke to share her interest in the school. Things quickly developed as the interest was mutual, and it led to a campus visit in the spring of 2025.
The people are what sold the school to her, along with Clarke's ability to help Kone reach her professional basketball aspirations.
There was no doubt Clarke was a respected coach: "On my visit, everybody from players to coaches to people that she introduced me to in the department spoke so highly of her," said Kone.
After the tour, she felt confident in her decision. Additionally, guided by her faith, Kone found reassurance in repeated signs pointing her toward TMU.
"I also believe in God a lot. So I was kind of like, 'Oh God, if you want me to come here, just kind of tell my mom,'" said Kone. "And I don't know but she kind of kept saying that she kept hearing TMU."
When it came time to move to Toronto and begin her fourth season of U SPORTS basketball, Kone wasn't nervous, just eager.
"I just wanted to get there and get started and just play and meet everybody," said Kone.
That excitement, however, came with the reality of having to start from square one. Adjusting to a new basketball program meant building chemistry and learning new dynamics.
"It's a new start, like every beginning isn't the easiest," said Kone. "You have to start from nothing."
Kone faced the challenge head-on, embracing adversity. Practices pushed her both mentally and physically, and Clarke and her teammates consistently pushed her to reach her full potential.
"[Coach Clarke] definitely holds me accountable in a lot of aspects, which I really like," said Kone.
As Kone found her role on the court, she also made a conscious effort to immerse herself in the team's culture and build connections with every player. She appreciates how basketball brings together people who might otherwise never have crossed paths. Through countless hours of practice, games and travel, she has already formed strong friendships and lasting memories.
"Honestly, I'd say every moment is my favourite moment, like even the hard ones," said Kone. "They'll challenge you and you guys will cry together, you'll laugh together and everything."
One teammate in particular has played a key role in Kone's transition. Fellow guard
Kait Nichols has become someone Kone leans on. They both regularly listen to and support one another through challenges.
Through forming these relationships, Kone has earned the trust of her teammates and has grown into a leadership role. She admitted that leadership did not come naturally to her during her time at Calgary, but her progression from her first year to now her fourth has shaped her into one.
This growth is reflected in her role on the court. As a point guard, Kone views leadership as a natural part of her responsibilities.
"Part of being a point guard is you have to lead people out there," said Kone. "You're an extension of a coach."
Taking on this larger role on the team, Kone knows that everything is rooted in the basics. Since arriving at TMU, she has spent countless hours in the gym working with coaches and refining her game.
"I think through hard work, you can really excel in anything that you put your mind to," said Kone.
The hard work has paid off. Kone is currently averaging 20 points per game and recorded a career-high 28 points against McMaster on Nov. 11, 2025. Despite those achievements, the guard remains grounded.
"If you want to look at the numbers, my numbers have increased from first to fourth year, but I feel like I don't even really look at that," said Kone. "I'm just going to do whatever we need to do to win out there. And sometimes it may end with us getting a win, but I'm going to keep working my butt off."
That team-first approach embedded in the Bold's values has contributed to their strong season, currently leading the OUA Central division. With the postseason slowly approaching, Kone has clear goals she hopes to achieve this year.
"My biggest thing this year is I really want to leave with a championship," said Kone. "So I think winning Critelli is the goal."
Kone is familiar with the heartbreak of falling short of championships. In her first year of university basketball, she and the Calgary Dinos fell to the University of Alberta at home during the Canada West Finals.
"That was really defeating to just leave with silver. I want to come back with the gold," said Kone.
Individually, she also hopes to land First Team All-Star in the OUA, after a second-team performance last season with Calgary.
Still, no matter the titles or accolades, it is Kone's love for the game that continues to drive her.
"I feel like the sport has done so much for me. It has taken a lot from me, but it has also done so much," said Kone.
Basketball has also helped her shape her future off the court. Currently studying Psychology at TMU, Kone hopes to pursue a career as a sports psychologist, drawing on her experiences as an athlete to support others.
As play intensifies in the coming weeks, Kone remains focused on doing what she loves most, playing the game that she finds most fun.
"I cherish all these moments, and because of them, it's made me who I am today, and I've grown so much," said Kone.
