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/ Women's Basketball
Playing with a Purpose: Niamya Holloway
8/19/2025 11:45:00 AM | Women's Basketball
How Nia Holloway Uses Her Platform to Honor Her Brother’s Fight with Type 1 Diabetes
For University of Minnesota women's basketball player Niamya Holloway, every moment on the court is more than a game, it's a tribute.
A tribute to her younger brother, Caleb Holloway, a 16-year-old with a relentless spirit and a daily battle against type 1 diabetes.
"It was really hard on us," said Holloway, reflecting on the day Caleb's world suddenly changed. "One day he got really sick and nobody knew why. My mom and dad were in the hospital with him for a week. Watching his twin sister go through it too, they're attached at the hip, that was hard."
The diagnoses changed the Holloway's life, but it also brought them closer and made them stronger for a new purpose.
"It's something that scares me for sure, something I never thought one of my younger siblings would go through," said Holloway. "He's older now, but when he first got diagnosed he didn't really understand what was going on. It's hard for me to see his innocence be stripped away from him. He understands that if he doesn't handle diabetes properly, he could die."
But Caleb's strength soon became her inspiration. If he can push through adversity, so can she.
"I think about what he's been through everyday and how it gets hard but he doesn't let it stop him from living," she said. "He has fears living with type 1 diabetes, but that never stands in the way of what he wants to do."
As Caleb grew older, the family found ways to bring light to the heaviness of chronic disease.
"At first we were walking on eggshells," she says. "But now, we can joke around with him a little, and it helps. It makes things normal."
The family also found strength through the Breakthrough Foundation, a diabetes advocacy and education group. Last year, the Holloways were selected as the foundation's feature family at its annual gala where $1.2 million was raised to find a cure. A film crew even came to document their story.
"It's very powerful hearing Caleb talk about how he handles this task," she said. "It was an amazing experience."
As her basketball career took off, she knew she had more than just a voice, she had a platform. Now, she leads efforts each year to host a diabetes awareness night during the Gophers' season.
"When I got social media I knew it was a platform to use and raise awareness," said Holloway. "I've always been a huge advocate for social justice and now with Caleb,I get to use this massive platform I'm building to raise awareness for things that not only affect my family, but millions of families across the world. Insulin is the number one drug in the world and it is also the most expensive so drawing awareness is key."
Support from the University of Minnesota community, teammates, coaches, fans, has only strengthened her mission.
"They've been so willing to learn. A lot of people don't really know what diabetes is beyond the surface. But the more they understand, the more they care."
Representing her home state makes it all the more meaningful.
"Playing for the Gophers is a dream," she says. "Having my family in the stands, knowing they've been through so much, and being able to be a role model for girls who want to stay home and do something great, that's the best part."
Because for her, basketball is no longer just about the game. It's about Caleb. It's about fighting for something bigger.
And every time she steps onto the court, she's not just playing for Minnesota, she's playing for him.
A tribute to her younger brother, Caleb Holloway, a 16-year-old with a relentless spirit and a daily battle against type 1 diabetes.
"It was really hard on us," said Holloway, reflecting on the day Caleb's world suddenly changed. "One day he got really sick and nobody knew why. My mom and dad were in the hospital with him for a week. Watching his twin sister go through it too, they're attached at the hip, that was hard."
The diagnoses changed the Holloway's life, but it also brought them closer and made them stronger for a new purpose.
"It's something that scares me for sure, something I never thought one of my younger siblings would go through," said Holloway. "He's older now, but when he first got diagnosed he didn't really understand what was going on. It's hard for me to see his innocence be stripped away from him. He understands that if he doesn't handle diabetes properly, he could die."
But Caleb's strength soon became her inspiration. If he can push through adversity, so can she.
"I think about what he's been through everyday and how it gets hard but he doesn't let it stop him from living," she said. "He has fears living with type 1 diabetes, but that never stands in the way of what he wants to do."
As Caleb grew older, the family found ways to bring light to the heaviness of chronic disease.
"At first we were walking on eggshells," she says. "But now, we can joke around with him a little, and it helps. It makes things normal."
The family also found strength through the Breakthrough Foundation, a diabetes advocacy and education group. Last year, the Holloways were selected as the foundation's feature family at its annual gala where $1.2 million was raised to find a cure. A film crew even came to document their story.
"It's very powerful hearing Caleb talk about how he handles this task," she said. "It was an amazing experience."
As her basketball career took off, she knew she had more than just a voice, she had a platform. Now, she leads efforts each year to host a diabetes awareness night during the Gophers' season.
"When I got social media I knew it was a platform to use and raise awareness," said Holloway. "I've always been a huge advocate for social justice and now with Caleb,I get to use this massive platform I'm building to raise awareness for things that not only affect my family, but millions of families across the world. Insulin is the number one drug in the world and it is also the most expensive so drawing awareness is key."
Support from the University of Minnesota community, teammates, coaches, fans, has only strengthened her mission.
"They've been so willing to learn. A lot of people don't really know what diabetes is beyond the surface. But the more they understand, the more they care."
Representing her home state makes it all the more meaningful.
"Playing for the Gophers is a dream," she says. "Having my family in the stands, knowing they've been through so much, and being able to be a role model for girls who want to stay home and do something great, that's the best part."
Because for her, basketball is no longer just about the game. It's about Caleb. It's about fighting for something bigger.
And every time she steps onto the court, she's not just playing for Minnesota, she's playing for him.
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