Shaniqua Nilles signs pro contract to play in Denmark

Former Gonzaga women’s basketball player Shaniqua Nilles has signed a contract to play for SISU Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Nilles played in 107 games as a Zag. Her 10 career starts came in her final 10 games in a GU uniform. The Spokane native (West Valley High School) averaged 5.1 points a game as a junior, before coming back from injury in her senior year. Nilles pulled down a career-best three rebounds a game this past season.

“I could not be happier for someone than I am for Shaniqua,” Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier said. “She has fought hard through every challenge she has faced and is fulfilling one of her goals of playing professional basketball. I have all the confidence that she is going to flourish in this next step.”

Nilles scored a career-high 18 points versus Idaho State during the 2014-15 season. She grabbed a career-best eight rebounds against Loyola Marymount this past season, and dished out four assists twice during her four-year stint.

“It’s such a blessing to have the opportunity to keep playing basketball in Denmark alongside one of my former teammates and childhood best friends, Jazmine Redmon,” Nilles said. “I’m going to miss the Gonzaga community so much, but I’m excited to begin my first year of playing professionally overseas.”

Nilles is the second 2015-16 Bulldog to sign a professional contract in Europe, as Shelby Cheslek recently signed with the Greek’s top-division Dafni Agiou Dimitriou in Athens.

SISU Basketball Klub is a Danish basketball club from Gentofte, Copenhagen founded in 1954. It is the oldest basketball club in Denmark as well as the most successful, including 18 championships. Both the men’s and women’s teams still play in the league’s premier championships. The team’s season begins on Oct. 9 against Horsholm.