By Tana Aiyejina
The Ogwumike sisters: Nneka (Los Angeles Sparks), Chiney (Los Angeles Sparks) and Erica (Minnesota Lynx) on Wednesday joined award winning South African music artist Sho Madjozi in the fifth episode of the “NBA Africa Game Time”, which was aired on NBA Africa YouTube channel.
The WNBA players, one of the most famous basketball sisters, spoke about their Nigerian roots, recall Nneka Ogwumike’s MVP season and the Sparks winning the 2016 WNBA Finals, as well as sharing their views on the transformative power of basketball and creating more opportunities for young boys and girls in Africa.
Speaking on their Nigerian-American roots, Los Angeles Sparks power forward Chiney said, “By nature of being Nigerian and American, I always say that we have the best of both worlds. We have the Nigerian determination, but then we also have the American opportunity. Our parents let us capitalise on that by just saying ‘Hey, we see values that are good for young girls being in sports,’ despite that (it) might not have been the same path that most African parents chose at the time.”
As a Nigerian-American, Chiney understands the passion African fans have for sports. In her free time, she’s traveled around the continent, working on basketball clinics and helping to raise money to build basketball courts.
She also shared an insight on creating more youth development initiatives in Africa.
“I think that the NBA, of all leagues, and the Basketball Africa League, especially under the leadership of Amadou (Gallo Fall), have done an excellent job in creating that infrastructure… They knew that basketball has so much potential to transform lives. Most of their initiatives aren’t just for men, or for boys, it’s for women too…. We are making strides, so I’m very optimistic,” Chiney, 28, added.
Nneka, also a power forward at Los Angeles Sparks, was a member of the victorious Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, after beating Spain 77–64 in the final.
Two years later, she won the WNBA MVP Award, as well as winning the WNBA Championship with the Sparks.
The WNBA double is one that the 29-year-old Chiney still relishes.
“To be honest, it’s an indescribable feeling, it’s an indescribable process,” she stated.
“You reach a level that you’ve never experienced before and that’s when you realize, wow, I thought I had hit the pinnacle… I truly don’t believe there ever is really a pinnacle. I think that if you ever feel as if you’ve mastered anything, you’re not living life correctly.
“I am blessed to be able to have made a living playing basketball, but I think what’s biggest is us being able to make a difference playing basketball.”