All Eyes on Talty: The Multi-Talented Athlete Making Her Mark

Published on Feb 10 2026

What do the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots have in common? Devoted fan and CR sophomore shooting guard Nora Talty of College of the Redwoods, of course. Her father, Si Talty, moved from Massachusetts to California in search of something new, bringing his New England sports loyalties with him and passing that same passion on to his family.

Despite her 5’6 frame, Nora is pulling down 8.4 rebounds per game at the collegiate level, an impressive feat, while also putting up 15 points per game. 

Not only can she grab the rebounds and move without the ball efficiently and effectively, but she’s also been very reliable from the three-point line, shooting thirty percent from beyond the arc. 

To fully appreciate Nora’s depth, let’s start at the beginning, though.

Nora grew up in Arcata with her parents, and older sister, Grace. She attended Freshwater Elementary where her father was the superintendent and still is today.

Sports seemed to be woven into the fabric of the Talty family as her mother, Kim, ran track for Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt), and her sister currently plays rugby for the University of California, Berkeley. 

But going back to her childhood, it was Grace who, in the first grade, encouraged her to pick up her first basketball with the recreational league. Nora didn’t start to play competitively until fifth grade when she played for Freshwater and the Humboldt Wild Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) travel squad under coaches Issac Gildea and Doug Oliveira.

Nora started playing varsity basketball as a sophomore at Arcata High School for Oliveira, a successful journey she partly attributes to her preparation with the Humboldt Wild.

Despite Nora’s big success on the basketball court, Nora’s path to College of the Redwoods wasn’t straightforward. A multi-sport athlete in high school, she also played volleyball, and that’s the sport that brought her to CR believe it or not.

“Actually, I wasn’t going to play basketball last year,” she admits. “I didn’t know what I liked better, and basketball just caused too much stress,” she laughs.

However, circumstances shifted. With the women’s basketball team shorthanded, Nora agreed to return to the court. And this season, with encouragement from Itzel Torres (teammate/friend) she committed fully, jumping in with both feet, training in the offseason, adding muscle, and rediscovering her love for the game.

Now fully immersed into the 25/26 season, Nora brings energy, effort, and unselfishness to the floor. Her proudest moments are not defined by stats, but by seeing her teammates succeed.

“If I set someone else up for success and seeing all their joy, and their family too, that’s really cool,” she says.

Off the court, Nora’s schedule is relentless. She works as a dental assistant every morning, takes a full course load, and spends afternoons and evenings in practice, weights, and team commitments.

“I work every day, eight to twelve,” she says. “Then I come here, get homework done until practice, and after practice I just go home, eat dinner, hot tub, and go to bed. And then repeat,” she laughs.

When the days get heavy, Nora leans on perspective, faith, and the support systems around her. Therapy, family, and self-talk all play a role in helping her manage stress and stay grounded.

“I just tell myself everything happens for a reason,” she says. “It’s just a day, and tomorrow you’re not going to be worried about what you’re worried about right now. Honestly, I try to practice this self-talk every day as I still struggle with it.”

Basketball has also become an outlet during one of the most challenging periods of her life. After the loss of her grandfather and the end of a long-term relationship, Nora found herself searching for stability and direction. The game gave her both.

Beyond the hardwood, Nora reveals another dimension of herself. She surfs, practices yoga, can hold a handstand for minutes, loves to dance to 1970s music, and sings in her church choir. She describes herself as someone who cannot sit still, always moving, always going.

Looking ahead, Nora hopes to continue playing basketball at the next level while pursuing a future in dental hygiene. Wherever she lands, she wants to be remembered not just as an athlete, but as a teammate and a person.

“I hope they remember that I loved basketball,” she says. “That I was a nice person. And that I worked hard.”

For Nora Talty, the journey is still unfolding, and the best chapters may still be ahead.

The Edit: After this story was written, it must be noted that the College of the Redwoods Women’s Basketball Team went on to beat Butte College 72 to 68. They’re now tied for first place in the GVC. 

Hard work. Determination. Team basketball. Go, Woods.