Chiney Ogwumike, a professional basketball player, hasn’t announced her retirement but has focused on her career as an ESPN sports broadcaster.
She last played for the Los Angeles Sparks, re-signing a multi-year deal in February 2021, but didn’t play in the 2024 WNBA season.
Initially from Nigeria, her parents supported her athletic career since she attended Cypress Fairbanks High School. She won the 5A State Championship and was named a WBCA and McDonald’s All-American.
Chiney committed to play college basketball for Stanford University, joining her sister, Nneka Ogwumike. She ended her college career as the all-time career scoring leader for either sex in Pac-12 Conference history.
The Connecticut Sun selected her with the first overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft, and she won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.
On April 28, 2019, the Sun traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks, which reunited her with Nneka. Due to health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn’t intend to play in the 2020 WNBA season.
In August 2020, she became the first Black woman to host a national radio show for ESPN. She is also one of the youngest commentators named a full-time NBA analyst for ESPN while simultaneously playing in the WNBA.
Chiney Ogwumike’s Parents Are Nigerian And Moved To The US For Better Opportunities
Chinenye Joy “Chiney” Ogwumike, the daughter of Ify Atuanya and Peter Ogwumike, was born on March 21, 1992, in Tomball, Texas.
Her parents raised her alongside her three siblings, including Nneka, who plays for the Seattle Storm.
Chiney comes from a family deeply rooted in education, hard work, and Nigerian heritage.
Her parents left Nigeria to pursue the American dream, building successful careers while instilling strong values in their four children.
Peter Ogwumike hails from Nigeria and came to the U.S. to study at Weber State University in Utah. After completing his education, he settled in Houston, where he built a successful career as a technology consultant.
In 2000, he founded Automated Systems International, a full-service automation and electrical contracting company.
Meanwhile, Ify Ogwumike was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States with her husband to further her education.
She dedicated her career to shaping young minds, eventually rising to become an assistant superintendent at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (ISD) in Texas.
She balanced a demanding career while supporting her children’s athletic and academic pursuits, proving to be a strong role model for women in both professional and family life.
Ify and Peter’s sacrifices and achievements laid the foundation for their daughters’ success in sports, media, and beyond.
Chiney Ogwumike’s Parents Are Proud Of Their Daughter’s Accomplishments
Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike’s basketball success is well-documented. They dominated the Cy-Fair High School court and stepped out for their jersey retirement ceremony in 2019.
However, their parents, Peter and Ify Ogwumike, knew this wasn’t even the family’s proudest achievement, as they have a long way to go.
if you know us, you know how rare this is. All four of us and the Pops in a picture???? Say it ain’t sooooooo 💕 pic.twitter.com/rXIzGX5Klf
— Erica Ogwumike, MD (@ericaogwumikee) September 2, 2018
Peter and Ify beamed at their daughters’ accomplishments and the values they embodied as they addressed the crowd in Cy-Fair’s gym.
It really is surreal. You think about your jersey getting retired and it’s one of those things as kids, you’re like, ‘I want to get my jersey retired, I want to be that type of player.’ But you realize it’s not even about the jersey, it’s about the people.
Chiney Ogwumike
The true highlight of the Ogwumike family’s journey came when their mother, Dr. Ify Ogwumike, earned her PhD.
She earned the degree, raising four daughters and balancing her role as Assistant Superintendent for Student Services in the Cy-Fair school district.
I know they’re very proud of me, I am very proud of them. I’ve been so grateful for their support and my husband’s support through the process, so I think it’s a family degree.
Ify Ogwumike
The Ogwumikes’ success isn’t limited to Nneka and Chiney. The two younger sisters, Erica and Olivia, have also made their mark.
In her final season with Rice basketball, Erica scored 25 points, and her sisters cheered her.
According to the parents, it was the first time in over six years that all four daughters were together for more than two days.
Olivia is already carving her path, continuing the family tradition of excelling in academics and athletics.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Chiney Ogwumike and her sister, Nneka, held a fundraiser to support UNICEF programs that promote education and empowerment for girls in Nigeria.
- She married Nigerian boxer Raphael Akpejiori with a traditional Nigerian celebration in Houston in November 2023.
- She was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in December 2020.
- In October 2023, she became an inaugural member of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States.
