Chiney Ogwumike Biography
Chinenye “Chiney” Ogwumike is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Moreover, Ogwumike was one of the first and youngest commentators ever to be named an NBA analyst and at the same time play for the WNBA. In addition, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for ESPN.
Born in Tomball, Texas, United States. Ogwumike went to school at Cypress Fairbanks High School in nearby Cypress, Texas. While at school she won the 5A State Championship in her sophomore and senior seasons. Prior to that, Chiney was named a WBCA and McDonald’s All-American. After graduating from high school, she joined Stanford University, where she majored in International relations. During her college career, she played in three final fours, and on January 3, 2014, Chiney held the record for the most rebounds in the history of Stanford Women’s Basketball and the Pac-12 Conference, a record now held by Kelsey Plum from Washington.
Ogwumike was first to be picked overall in the 2014 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun and has remained with the team since then. Her average record was 15.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. Soon after joining WNBA she and her sister Nneka Ogwumike were the first candidates to be selected for the WNBA All-Star game. Afterward, Ogwumike won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2014. However, the following year she didn’t play because she was recovering from a micro-fracture on her right knee.
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In 2016, Chiney returned back and played a total of 33 games with an average of 12.6 points per game. In that period she played against the Dallas Wings and won the game. Unfortunately that same year, she had to undergo surgery after injuring her Achilles tendon during the WNBA off-season at a game in China. As a result, she had to miss the 2017 WNBA season. In addition, Chiney was elected Vice President of the WNBA Players Association.
Furthermore, Ogwumike has also played with some clubs overseas like Europe in the 2014- 2015 European season and Italian Familia Schio. In 2016 she signed with Henan Yichuan of the WCBA for the 2016-17 season in China. She also played with the USA U18 basketball team. In May 2018, Chiney signed a multi-year contract with ESPN to become a full-time sports analyst. That same year, Chiney made her return to the Sun in their season debut, playing her first WNBA game in two years. In 17 minutes of play, she scored 9 points in the starting lineup in a 101–65 victory over the Las Vegas Aces. Aside from that, she also appeared for the second time in the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game.
In 2019 Ogwumike reunited back with her sister after she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2020 first-round pick. The Sparks finished as number 3 in that season saying goodbye to the second season. However, in the semi-final, they were eliminated by their former team, the Connecticut Sun. In 2020, Chiney left the team due to a health issue. At the same time, she became the first Black woman to host a national radio show for ESPN.
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Apart from that, She is one of the youngest commentators to be named a full-time NBA analyst for ESPN. She co-hosted the show together with Mike Golic Jr in a radio show called Chiney & Golic Jr. After some time she joined the daily series NBA Today as a rotating in-studio analyst. Moreover, in February 2021, Ogwumike re-signed with the Sparks to a multi-year deal.
Chiney Ogwumike Age
How old is Chiney Ogwumike? Chiney is 31 years old as of 2023. She was born on March 21, 1992, in Tomball, Texas, United States. In addition, she celebrates her birthday on March 21 every year.
Chiney Ogwumike Height/ Weight
Ogwumike stands at a height of 6 feet and 2 inches ( 1.88m) tall. She weighs around 79 kilograms.
Chiney Ogwumike Husband
Is Ogwumike married? Chiney is very secretive about her personal life hence she has not shared any information regarding her relationship. Currently is still single and focused on developing her career.
Chiney Ogwumike Family
Chiney is the daughter of Peter Ogwumike. She was born and raised in Tomball, Texas. She has an older sister named Nneka Ogwumike who also plays for the Los Angeles Sparks. Her mother is a long-time school administrator, while her father is a technical advisor who divides his time between Nigeria and Houston. Aside from that, she also has two younger sisters namely Chisom and Erinma.
Chiney Ogwumike Net Worth
Ogwumike’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million-$ 5 million dollars. Her primary source of income is her career as a basketballer and an ESPN analyst.