Former Rice Women’s Basketball player Maya Adetula tragically passed away on Wednesday.
Born on July 31, 1993, Maya Adetula, a native of Mansfield, Texas, played four seasons as a guard for the Rice University women’s basketball team from 2011 to 2015.
A 5-foot-10 standout from Mansfield High School, she was a four-year starter.
She earned multiple accolades, including being a McDonald’s All-American nominee and a consistent All-District and Academic All-State honoree.
As a senior in the 2014-15 season, she appeared in 25 games with six starts, averaging 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in just over 10 minutes per game.
Her collegiate career included a memorable 15-point game against eventual Conference USA champion WKU, where she shot 50% from the field and was perfect at the free-throw line.
During her junior year, she played in all 30 games and posted a season-high nine points twice, including in the C-USA Tournament.
As a sophomore, she proved her scoring efficiency by averaging nearly 13 points per 30 minutes in conference play.
Off the court, Adetula was a member of Brown College at Rice and continued to demonstrate academic excellence.
Basketball Player Maya Adetula Passed Away At The Age of 32
Maya Adetula took her last breath on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 32. However, the cause of death has not been revealed yet.
Joshua High School graduate Lacey Sanders Baker took her official Facebook handle and mourned Maya’s loss. She wrote,
Maya Adetula was my baby sisters best friend. Our hearts are hurting 💔 She helped hold my sister together. She was Brady Sanders other half from day 1. She laughed like no other. Her smile clearly shows how bright her spirit glowed! Maya is going to be missed tremendously. We don’t know why sudden events like this happen, but I know her imprint on all of our lives will forever live on.
Lacey Sanders Baker
The Rice Women’s Basketball team also took to their official Facebook handle and mourned the loss of Maya. They wrote,
The Rice women’s basketball family mourns the loss of Maya Adetula ‘15.
Rice Women’s Basketball
Maya’s best friend, Martha Isuo, who works at Duncanville ISD, also mourned the tragic loss. She wrote,
This is hard pill for me to swallow. I honestly don’t have words. My bestfriend has passed away. I’ve been a mess ever since I received the news. It truly feels like a movie. We spoke Tuesday, and the last thing you told me was we are locked in for life! Maya I love you forever. ❤️ 🕊️Maya Adetula
Martha Isuo
Other close friends and relatives have also poured their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Maya’s family to stay strong in this challenging time.
As per Maya’s family, the funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at St. John Church Unleashed, 1701 W. Jefferson Street, Grand Prairie. TX 75051.
Maya will always be remembered for her unforgettable contribution as a Rice Women’s basketball player. Rest in Paradise, Maya Adetula.
Mansfield Native Maya Adetula Is Survived By Her Parents
Maya Adetula’s father, Henry, and her mother, Rosalynd Adetula, are mourning the tragic death of their daughter.
Her mother, Rosalynd, took to her official Facebook handle to announce the tragic news. She wrote.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Folasade (Maya) Adetula on May 7th, 2025. Maya brought joy to our lives with her vibrant spirit, kindness, infectious laughter, and love. As we come together to honor her legacy, we invite you to join us in a Celebration of Life Service.
Rosalynd Adetula
Rosalynd is originally from Grand Prairie, Texas, but lives in Arlington with her family.
Her official LinkedIn profile shows Rosalynd graduated from Prairie View A&M University. She has served as the escalation manager and reinstatement coordinator at Sanander Consumer USA Inc.
On the other hand, Maya’s father, Henry, has avoided social media, so little information about his personal life is known.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In the 2013-14 season, Maya played in all 30 games, including the first three starts of her career. She averaged 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds while playing 9.6 minutes per game.
- She poured in a career-high 15 points in 20 minutes against eventual C-USA champion WKU, making 5-of-1 shots from the field and 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
