Tayra Melendez joined the Red Flash in December 2021 as an assistant coach, where she will assist with player development, scouting opponents, and recruiting.
Melendez is familiar with the Northeast Conference, as she spent two seasons with Bryant as the director of operations. She handled responsibilities of travel, coordinated practices and weightlifting sessions and managed the team's budget, amongst other tasks.
As a player, Melendez has been part of the Puerto Rican National Team since 2014. She was one of 12 players selected to represent Puerto Rico in international competition, as the island qualified for its first Olympics in Puerto Rican women's basketball history.
Melendez was a starter for the Puerto Rican team at the 2020 Olympics that were played in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. In three games, she had a total of seven points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one steal and four blocks.
Prior to the Olympic experience, she was a decorated member of the Puerto Rican National Team. She won gold medals at the 2018 and 2021 CentroBasket Tournament, in addition to a 2014 and 2021 silver medals and a 2017 bronze medal at the tournament. There were two CentroBasket Tournaments hosted in 2021. She was also a bronze medalist at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup Tournament and 2018 Central American Games.
She played professionally in the PR-Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF) from 2016-18 and rejoined the league in 2021. She was drafted third overall in 2016 by Santeras de Aguada and was named Defensive Player of the League in 2016 and 2018. She won her first league championship in 2018 after being traded to Gigantes de Carolina.
In 2021, she won the second BSNF league championship of her career with Gigantes de Carolina and was named Finals MVP. She also played in the Ecuador Women's Professional League in 2017 and Croatian First Women's League in 2019.
Before her professional career, Melendez spent four seasons at the University of Rhode Island from 2012-16. She was a co-captain for three seasons and earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice during her 2012-13 season.
