AANHPI Heritage Month: Nikki Tom

Nikki Tom was a four-year starter during the best stretch in UC Irvine women’s basketball history. From 2021-25, she led the Anteaters to four consecutive 20-win seasons and two Big West titles. Individually, she finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in steals, games played, games started and minutes played.

Nikki, who is half Chinese and half Japanese, is also part of a small percentage of Asian Americans to make it to the top level in collegiate basketball. Among 5,048 Division I women’s basketball players, 80 were of Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent according to NCAA data from October 2024. Nikki was aware that as a minority she would be a role model to the younger generation, and she embraced that responsibility.

“It was inspiring to me because when I was younger, I didn’t really have anyone to look up to who looked like me,” Nikki said. “It’s been really cool to see how kids would come to our youth camps and try to be coached by me because they had seen me play. It was truly special to see that I made an impact on future generations.”

“Nikki has not only inspired me personally but has also made me proud of being Asian through the way she carries herself and represents the community,” said UC Irvine women's basketball head coach Tamara Inoue, who is a first generation Japanese American. “I know many young Asian girls look up to her - seeing someone like Nikki thrive on the court is an inspiration to them. She has set an example that will continue to motivate the next generation.”

Nikki grew up in Fresno, California, and was introduced to basketball at an early age, often tagging along to her brother’s practices. That sparked her interest in the sport, and as a kindergartner she joined her first team - the Cobras - in a local Asian league. Her father, who is a UCI alum, was her first coach and continued to be her coach until she started playing AAU five years later.

“Playing in the Asian league early on showed me there are more people out there like me,” Nikki recalled. “As I moved on to AAU and high school, I was always the only Asian on the team so sometimes it was hard to find that bond, but I think it pushed me to explore other backgrounds and see where people were from and build friendships off that.”

Despite facing some challenges of belonging, Nikki continued to excel on the court. She led Clovis West High School to four-straight league and Central Section titles, and four appearances in the CIF State Championships where they advanced to the semifinals three times. She also racked up the individual hardware as a four-time all-state selection and two-time Tri-River Athletic Conference Player of the Year. In addition, she was tabbed the 2021 Central Section Player of the Year.

Nikki’s success, along with a trip to UCI’s Elite Camp, put her on the radar of Tamara Inoue (Coach T), one of only a handful of Asian American head coaches in the NCAA. Knowing they would be able to connect through shared experiences as a minority in the sport was important to Nikki, but it was also the way Coach T and her staff showed they cared about her as more than just a basketball player that influenced her decision to commit to UC Irvine.

“I knew we’d have a special bond,” Nikki said of Coach T. “She understood how we’re in the minority and don’t always get recognized for the things we do. Also, my junior year of high school, I was playing in a tournament and sprained my ankle pretty badly. Coach T wasn’t there but found out about it and reached out right away. She kept checking in on me and we built a relationship past basketball. She basically was my parent away from home.”

Nikki ended up coming to UC Irvine along with four other freshmen in 2021-22. Fast forward to 2025, and the Anteaters’ Fab Five are all still here, getting ready to graduate together in June. During their time at UCI, they spearheaded an unprecedented streak of four consecutive 20-win seasons, while finishing their careers with a 90-38 record (.703). They led the ‘Eaters to their first Big West regular-season title in 2022-23. The following year, they won the Big West Championship and earned the program’s first NCAA tournament berth since 1995.

“It’s kind of crazy because when we came in freshman year, there was a really dominant class before us, so we were kind of filling in the holes and finding our role, but once all of them left, we needed to step up and bring that next level to this program,” Nikki said. “I feel like we accomplished that.”

Nikki also accomplished what she set out to do in the classroom where she maintained a nearly 4.0 GPA throughout her career. She was a three-time Big West All-Academic selection, two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree and made the Dean’s List every quarter.

“Nikki is the embodiment of what it means to be a successful student-athlete, both on and off the court,” Coach T said. “She has earned two championships, pushed her body to the limit by playing the most minutes in our program over the past four years, and demonstrated unparalleled respect and selflessness. Her influence has extended beyond her teammates and coaches to the entire community. Academically, graduating Cum Laude from the Paul Merage School of Business is yet another testament to her dedication and excellence - I remain in awe of her achievements.”

Although she doesn’t plan to continue a playing career after she graduates with her bachelor’s degree in business administration, Nikki will always be part of a small group of Asian Americans who can say they were an NCAA Division I women’s basketball student-athlete. And she hopes that her success, along with others like Kaitlyn Chen and Natalie Nakase who have been in the spotlight recently, will continue to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

“It’s really hard, maybe the 1% make it to the top level and you just have to keep pushing yourself,” Nikki said. “It was cool to see Kaitlyn Chen get drafted to the WNBA and to see Natalie Nakase be named head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, but there is still a lot to do. I think just spreading awareness and showing we’re capable is important.”