Traore was born in Dakar, Senegal to Seydu Traoré and Bineta Camara on 27 July 1983. She has 2 brothers and 1 sister. At Purdue, she majored in hospitality and tourism management. Traore attended high school in Louisville, Kentucky and was a Kentucky all-state performer in women's basketball in 2001. After graduating high school, Traore attended Dixie State College of Utah for 2 years. In the two years at Dixie State, Traore scored 12.3 points per game in her first season and became a second-team junior college women's basketball All-American, averaging over 21 ppg (6th in her division of basketball nationally). Traore then transferred to Purdue University, where she played for 2 seasons. During her last year at Purude, Traore averaged nearly 13 points and nearly 5 rebounds per game. Traore led Purdue to a 28–8 record before losing to the University of North Carolina in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
At the AfroBasket Women 2009 and 2015 she was nominated Most Valued Player. She is the third African player who win this title two times.
With the National team of Senegal she played 5 African championships (2007 (finalist), 2009 (winner), 2011(finalist), 2013 (third) and 2015(winner)).
