ARLINGTON, Texas – Former UTA women's basketball standout Cierra Johnson, who is represented by NVEA Management, has signed her first professional contract to play for Mark Basket Marbo Kinna in Sweden.

Also known as BK Marbo, the club is located in Kinna, Sweden – a town of roughly 15,000 people located in the southwest part of the country. BK Marbo competes in the Damligan, Sweden's domestic women's basketball league.

"It feels amazing to sign a professional contract," said Johnson. "I am ready to meet everyone and excited to learn about the country as well as play the sport I love!"

Johnson, the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Co-Player of the Year, led the Lady Mavs to arguably the most successful season in program history in 2018-19. The Lady Mavs secured the program's first Sun Belt Regular Season championship, made their sixth postseason tournament appearance (WNIT) and won a postseason (excluding conference tournaments) game for the first time in program history with their WNIT First Round triumph over Stephen F. Austin (60-54; Mar. 21). UTA also finished the season with 24 wins, which tied for the most in a single season with the 2006-07 squad (24-9 overall, Head Coach Donna Capps) and were ranked No. 25 in the final CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll.

As a senior, the 2019 Sun Belt All-Conference First Team selection averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting .489 from the field, .373 from three-point range and a team-high .838 from the charity stripe. She ranked in the top 100 nationally in free throws made (27th; 145), free throw percentage (53rd; .838), free throw attempts (55th; 173), total steals (73rd; 68), field goal percentage (75th; .489) and steals per game (87th; 2.13).

Johnson, the lone Lady Mav to be named SBC Defensive Player of the Year and SBC Player of the Year during her career, scored her 1,000th career point at Oral Roberts during her senior season to become the 19th woman in UTA history to join UTA's 1,000-point club. The Bedford, Texas native finished her career with 1,396 points to rank seventh all-time on the UTA career list and 315 assists to rank 6th all-time in Sun Belt history. She also finished with her collegiate career as the program's all-time leader and steals (318), which placed her third all-time in the SBC.

"I couldn't be more excited that Cierra has signed her first professional contract," said head coach Krista Gerlich. "She has fought hard through every challenge she has faced to become one of the best players in Lady Mav history, and now her dreams of playing professionally are coming true. It was a pleasure coaching such an awesome young woman. I know she will represent UTA very well and make us all proud!"