Seattle Storm power forward Nneka Ogwumike has three younger sisters, Chiney, Olivia, and Erica Ogwumike. Like Nneka, all of her younger sisters have been involved in basketball.
The Ogwumike sisters were born to their parents, Peter and Ify Ogwumike, who are originally from Nigeria. The couple crossed paths in Colorado and got married. They decided to settle in Houston.
Their mother, Ify, first worked as a teacher and later became an assistant superintendent in Harris County. On the other hand, Peter built his own tech company called “Automated Systems.”
The Ogwumike pair welcomed four daughters during their decades-long marital life. In a 2020 interview with The New Yorker, Ify and Peter shared that their girls played basketball, volleyball, and soccer, and also did gymnastics.
Alongside sports, the Ogwumike bunch were active in academics, church, and leadership roles. Peter and Ify made it clear that what mattered most wasn’t just success.
"The only expectation we have of the girls is that they are hardworking, focussed, and have good personal morals and values, and remember who they are."
- Ify OgwumikeToday, all of the Ogwumike sisters have made their mark in basketball. Each of them has achieved success in sports in their own way.
For instance, Nneka plays as a power forward for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA and is a former MVP.
Chiney last played for the Los Angeles Sparks and re-signed with them in 2021; however, she did not participate in the 2024 WNBA season. She is more focused on her career as a sports broadcaster for ESPN.
Similarly, Olivia played college basketball at Rice University and pursued a career in health and sports.
Lastly, Erica played college basketball at Pepperdine and Rice and has represented Nigeria in international competitions.
Among all of Nneka Ogwumike’s sisters, Chiney is the only one who is married.
Chiney Ogwumike Shares A Happy Married Life With Boxer Raphael Akpejiori
Chiney Ogwumike married heavyweight boxer Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori on November 16, 2023.
The couple celebrated over four days (from November 15 to November 19), including two wedding ceremonies and ten different bridal outfits for Chiney.
According to The Knot, the festivities began with a welcome party on November 15 at Ogwumike’s family home, followed by a traditional Nigerian ceremony.
Their wedding week was attended by more than 1000 guests. The basketball player described the wedding as a “royal celebration of Nigerian culture, family, and community.”
It was held at the Igbo Catholic Community Center in Houston. If you are surprised by the number of guests, it is said to be common in Nigerian culture.
According to the WNBA star and ESPN host, in Nigerian culture, weddings are often open to the community.
Although the wedding wasn’t held in Nigeria, the couple recreated the experience in Houston.
Furthermore, they chose the theme “Royally African” to honor Raphael’s Edo heritage. The decorations were primarily gold, ivory, and green, inspired by the colors of the Nigerian flag.
In contrast, the bride and groom wore silver- and gold-adorned outfits that let the guests’ bright clothing shine.
Raphael Akpejiori Is A Native of Nigeria
The ESPN host is a first-generation Nigerian-American. On the other hand, Chiney Ogwumike’s husband, Raphael, was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria.
In addition to being a professional heavyweight boxer, Raphael is also a mechanical engineer. He graduated from the University of Miami with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering.
The WNBA star’s spouse has a professional boxing record of 18 wins out of 20 fights. He is better known as the “Nigerian Hurricane” in the boxing circle. Like Chiney, her husband is also Christian.
Regarding their recent married life, both Chiney and Raphael tend to keep their relationship private and rarely post about each other on social media.
In Case You Don’t Know
- Chiney and Raphael got engaged on Christmas Eve 2022, after he first caught her attention earlier that year.
- They kept their engagement private for almost a year. The couple announced their engagement just a week before getting married.
- They have not welcomed any children.
