Saanya Kumar

Calm and Fire: The Dual Focus of Saanya Kumar

She hikes, she serves, she switches her socks twice — and she’s quietly building herself into the kind of player every team needs.

Some players are loud about their ambition. Saanya Kumar doesn’t need to be. Her drive comes from something quieter — a blend of gratitude, discipline, and that particular kind of love that only exists between an athlete and their game.

“When things get hard, I remind myself why I started,” she says. “I love basketball. Even on the tough days, the feeling of being on the court and competing makes it worth it.” It’s not a motivational quote — it’s the backbone of how she operates.

This season, Saanya’s chasing something that doesn’t show up on a scoreboard: confidence. Not the shout-it-from-the-rooftop kind, but the steady, earned confidence that comes from being consistent. Her goal? To contribute in every way possible — on the court or from the bench — and to become the kind of reliable, energy-bringing player who makes everyone around her better.

Long-term, she’s aiming to grow into a leader and role model, the kind of person younger athletes can look up to just as she once looked up to others. For her, success isn’t only about buckets and minutes. It’s about growth — as a player, a teammate, and a person.

Off the court, Saanya finds her balance in motion. She hikes — mountains, trails, even neighborhood loops. “Being outside gives me peace,” she says. “It’s different from basketball, but it helps me reset and come back focused.”

And then there’s her other team — her community. Every week, she volunteers at her local Sikh temple, preparing and serving meals, cleaning, doing whatever’s needed. It’s her way of staying connected to humility and service, grounding herself in something bigger than the game. “It balances out the competitive side,” she says. “It reminds me why teamwork matters.”

Ask her teammates what her most underrated skill is, and they’ll tell you: it’s her ability to lift others up. The encouragement. The listening. The small gestures that make teams feel like families.

Of course, she’s got her rituals, too — socks on, socks switched — a little superstition that helps her feel locked in. Her playlist flips between “HUMBLE.” by Kendrick Lamar and classical music, depending on the mood. It’s the perfect contradiction: intensity and composure in the same breath. And if she had a walkout song? Easy — “Family Ties” by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar. Because it’s all there in the title — family, connection, and fire.

Saanya Kumar isn’t the loudest voice in the room. She’s the steady one — hiking through the noise, serving where she can, and always, always showing up ready to play.