Rachel Cockman’s journey to basketball was anything but conventional. Growing up in Cantwell, Alaska—a remote town with a population of just 200—her early years were spent mushing dogs rather than dribbling a basketball. Before she could even walk, she was bundled up in her mother’s dog sled, experiencing the thrill of the Alaskan wilderness firsthand. She went on to race in and complete the Junior Iditarod and the Willow 100 three times, proving her resilience and competitive spirit long before she ever set foot on a basketball court. The grueling endurance required for dog sledding, from braving harsh winter conditions to managing a team of sled dogs, shaped her mental and physical toughness in ways that would later translate to the hardwood.
Despite her deep roots in sled dog racing, Rachel found her way to basketball through an unconventional path. Coming from a town with no high school team, she had to seek out opportunities in creative ways, training on her own and traveling long distances just to compete. Her determination paid off when she earned a spot at Western Colorado University, where she brings the same grit and perseverance that defined her days on the trail. With a work ethic forged in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, Rachel has proven that champions can emerge from the most unexpected places.
