Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA star, frustrated by FIBA: Will not play with Nigeria.

Nneka Ogwumike’s Olympic dream with Nigeria truncated

Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA star, has seen her desire to represent Nigeria in the Olympic Games frustrated. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rejected her request to play with the African team in next year’s World Cup and at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. This is Ogwumike’s third failed attempt to play for Nigeria, the country of origin of her parents. The player had been trying to get approval since the 2021 Tokyo Games.

After the second attempt, I made peace with it. The third time, I said, let me say I gave it my all. I’m pretty much over it. It’s unfortunate, but there are certain things you can’t control.

Nneka Ogwumike

FIBA justified its decision, arguing that Ogwumike’s initial request was submitted too close to the start of the Tokyo Olympic Games. Furthermore, her appeal for last year’s Paris Games arrived late. FIBA also recalled that Ogwumike was a key player on the US team in their victories at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. The federation seeks to prevent athletes from playing for more than one senior national team during their careers.

My involvement with the United States is for them, their strongest point, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense for the individual who is being penalized for it. They will keep using this excuse over and over again. I’m not going to dwell on it anymore. I tried honestly, so I feel good about it.

Nneka Ogwumike

Despite the support of USA Basketball for Ogwumike to play for Nigeria, the player was not included in the American team for the Tokyo Games due to a knee sprain. Her recovery would have been in time for the Olympics. Ogwumike, who averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season with the Seattle Storm, was not the only American player who was denied the opportunity to play for Nigeria. Elizabeth Williams also tried to represent the country, but her request was rejected. Nneka’s younger sister, Chiney, did get approval with certain reservations.

Because Chiney never played on a world championship team, that’s the reason there are different states. I was also told that if I had gotten my passport a little earlier, my chances would have been better.

Nneka Ogwumike

Ogwumike revealed that, when she was younger, USA Basketball advised her not to try to obtain a passport from another country. It would damage our chances of playing for the United States. I wasn’t even trying to get it for basketball. I was just trying to get it because my parents are Nigerian. And I’m the first generation born here, so we were scared not to get passports from other countries where our families were from. Nigeria has become an emerging power in international basketball in recent years. The team reached the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, before being defeated by the United States. The incorporation of Ogwumike would have increased Nigeria’s chances of advancing even further in the tournament.

That’s the underlying current of what they weren’t telling us directly, but we assumed was happening.

Nneka Ogwumike

Ogwumike hopes her fight to play for Nigeria will shed light on the process and “how people decide to choose their nationalities when they want to represent their country.”