![]() "I never thought I'd be in this position." That is the nice way of looking at the situation, and over the past month she has done enough soul-searching and processing to arrive back at that positive, forward-looking perspective.īut it's still stunning to her that she will be watching the United States-Nigeria game from her home in Los Angeles, rather than playing in it. "So, maybe this time around, I won't be a part of it directly, but I certainly do hope that I can be in the future." Tokyo 2020Īll the news from the Summer Games in Tokyo on ESPN: Read more » "I still have a lot of pride and high hopes for the Nigerian team as it's composed now," Nneka, 31, says. Instead, it will be a gigantic missed opportunity, though Nneka has tried during this episode to accentuate the positive and look to the future. It would've been an incredible showcase for basketball in Africa, which was still basking in the glow of Giannis Antetokoumpo's NBA Finals MVP (his parents were born in Nigeria) with the Milwaukee Bucks. “It’s hard to fathom that a player that’s coming to the league and accomplished everything that she has to possibly go through her career and never have a chance to play in the Olympics.In another, the three Ogwumike sisters and Williams would be teaming up for a D'Tigress team looking to become the first African nation to win an Olympic medal in men's or women's basketball. “Just kind of mind boggling,” Sparks coach Derek Fisher said earlier this month. If Nneka is not allowed to play, she’ll be the only WNBA MVP who has not competed in the Olympics. Ogwumike’s appeal requests that the court make its decision before the first game in Tokyo, July 26 against Team USA. They’ll have to trim that down to 12, Hughley Jr. Team Nigeria listed 19 players on its roster ahead of the exhibition game. “They’re there to just help in any way possible, and it’s just selfless,” she said. Nyingifa detailed how forgot her sports bra for the matchup and Chiney lent her one. Unlike Nneka, Williams entered the game, playing 29 minutes contributing four points and four rebounds.Ītonye Nyingifa (9) who led Nigeria in scoring said Nneka and Chiney have been nothing but giving of their wisdom and everything else. Williams also had her petition denied with the oldest Ogwumike. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)ĭuring timeouts, Nneka Ogwumike helped coach Nigerian players, including Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream, pointing where they should position themselves. Erica Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and Nneka Ogwumike of Nigeria look on from the bench during an exhibition game against the United States at Michelob ULTRA Arena ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on Jin Las Vegas, Nevada. Turnovers were also an issue that contributed to the 70-67 loss to Australia on Friday. “It is good to have this win underneath us.”Īlthough Team USA maintained control throughout, they committed 20 turnovers that led to 17 points. ![]() “I feel like it’s matching the standard of the dominance of the USA team,” Wilson said. scored 42 points in the paint, led by center Brittney Griner (12) who stood several inches above the entire opposition. In the first quarter, Team USA captured a 16 point lead and never relinquished the momentum, extending the lead to as much as 32. After losing two straight exhibition games to Team WNBA and Australia, Team USA looked ready to compete for its seventh consecutive gold medal.Īj’a Wilson (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Breanna Stewart (14 points, 6 assists) led the U.S.
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