Former US Basketball Player, CHINEY OGWUMIKE
Chiney Ogwumike is an ESPN analyst, advocate, and former WNBA player who has dedicated herself to promoting women in sports and developing basketball across Africa. Born on March 21 to Nigerian parents in Houston, Texas, she grew up in a household that valued education and hard work. One of four Ogwuikike sisters, Chiney is the second-born. “Shout out to the middle children, middle children, we live in peace,” she says, smiling. Though her family is Igbo, they did not speak the language at home, but Chiney understands it well. “If I said Omalicham, you know what I’m talking about? Oh, yes. Omalicham. Yeah. I know that,” she recalls.
From a young age, basketball became a part of her life almost by chance. “Honestly, there were some windy roads along the way, but we fell into basketball and we fell in love with it.” In the early 2000s, opportunities for high-level competition in Nigeria were limited. “At that time, we did not plan to be basketball players. It just happened that we were tall. My mom’s co-worker said, take those girls out of gymnastics, Simone Biles, and put them into basketball. That’s where they could potentially shine.” By age 15 or 16, the sisters were already attracting attention in the United States. USA Basketball sent coaches, organized camps and clinics, and invited them to a training center in Colorado.
Nigeria’s federation, by contrast, sent only informal emails. “It wasn’t nearly as professional. It was gyms that were not available or places that parents probably would not necessarily feel comfortable taking their young ones. You don’t know if the gym is open. You don’t know if the players are going to be available. You don’t know if we have resources to help you train. There were a lot of question marks.” For parents making decisions about their children’s future, the structured, safe pathway offered by USA Basketball was compelling.
Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike eventually joined USA Basketball and excelled. Her sister Nneka became a WNBA MVP and champion in 2016 but missed the Olympics due to politics, a decision that left both sisters frustrated. “We felt like at that time, she could make such a bigger impact playing back home. The Federation said, okay, you haven’t played in the Olympics. Cool. She should be able to play for her home country. We have Nigerian blood. But they said you’re not Nigerian enough.”
Trying to switch to represent Nigeria through FIBA required extensive proof of heritage and commitment to promoting the game. “Born and raised in Houston, Texas, yes, but we’re citizens of Nigeria. We come back all the time. We went and we tried and we tried. We had to go through and provide as much documentation, childhood photos, activities.” Despite their efforts, the dream of representing Nigeria in competition remained unfulfilled. “This was my older sister’s biggest dream to be an Olympian. And she was denied on the basis that she was denied politically in the US, but then also denied back home. And it was from people that claimed to want to grow the game globally.”
Even without playing for the Nigerian national team, Chiney and Nneka continued to invest in the development of basketball across Africa. Chiney runs clinics in Lagos and Abuja, and has traveled to Nairobi, Kigali, Cape Town, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, and Angola to teach, mentor, and inspire young athletes. Her foundation, Queens of the Continent, is partnered with the Basketball Africa League, where she serves as the first female ambassador. The programs combine elite camps and leadership summits to encourage both girls and boys to pursue their passions. “You might want to be a coach, own a team, be a broadcaster, an architect that builds gyms and courts. The programs allow young girls and young women to feel like they are front and center, that their dreams are valid.”
Education remains central to her philosophy. Chiney pursued international relations at Stanford University under the mentorship of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice taught her to balance academics with athletics. “I thought that I couldn’t give my best to both. She said, Chanae, you can be great in both. Because when you’re in school, you’re resting. You’re just activating your mind. That changed everything for me.” Chiney’s academic focus also allowed her to spend time studying in Nigeria, interning at the Ministry of Petroleum, and participating in basketball camps in Benin City. It was there that she first realized the lack of opportunities for girls and made it her mission to provide them a platform. “On my day off, I went to a basketball camp and I saw two courts, hundreds of kids, and one girl. I said, I don’t know if I can go out there. I said, sis, let’s go. If you love the game, you love the game. Don’t be afraid to play just because you don’t see people like you.”
Chiney emphasizes that the next generation must be nurtured with proper facilities and mentorship. She cites the success of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team. “Those women are so special. Not losing on the continent in 10 years, five tournaments, winning back-to-back. Can you imagine what we’d be doing if we had resources? Dominance would be through the roof.” Emerging players like Amy Okonkwo, now in the WNBA, are showing the growing legitimacy of women in basketball, and the coaches and stars are paving the way for future generations.
Her foundation has already launched programs for elite players aged 18 to 23, who then serve as mentors and coaches for younger players aged 16 and below. “The talent is here. Now we just have to harvest it the same way we harvest any other resource. Whether you love basketball, football, coding, engineering, whatever it is, your dreams are valid. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Chiney encourages parents to support their children’s passions while prioritizing education. “Every year a girl stays in school in Nigeria, her earning potential increases by 10 percent. And 90 percent of women, when they make money, invest it back into their community. Sports was a side hustle for us. That is now my family’s main hustle. You can support not only your kids’ education but also their passion.”
Her long-term vision goes beyond camps. She wants to create arenas, courts, and sustainable spaces for training and community engagement, inspired by Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa initiative in Rwanda. “When you build an arena, you know who’s coming in there. Uncle Waffles, Timaya, entertainment, venues. You’re building a sustainable business. You’re building infrastructure for community. That is the long-term plan. If you build it, they will come.”
Chiney remains active on social media and through her foundation, inviting young athletes and advocates to connect. “Social media is the best. Hit me in the DMs if you love sports. There is no dedicated physical structure yet, but hopefully, it’ll happen soon.” Her commitment to growing the game and empowering the next generation is unwavering. Even though she never played for Nigeria, her impact resonates across the continent, ensuring that the future of African basketball is brighter than ever.
By Benprince Ezeh
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