(Video Credit: NTV Kenya)
The WNBA career of Nneka Ogwumike has certainly taken her places—both domestically and internationally. A Rookie of the Year in her first season, winning a WNBA championship last year in the fashion she did only added to her imprint on The W.
Recently, she appeared as a guest on the Better Living show on NTV Television in Kenya. Among the topics she talked about were becoming a WNBA champion last year as well as advice to those that wish to pursue their passions.
I’m Nigerian-American, and I always tell people, not African-American, Nigerian-American. Because, growing up, we had the cultural connection to Nigeria.
–Nneka Ogwumike
She went into how her parents, one of whom is now an assistant superintendent for a school district in the Houston area, instilled in her and her sisters the value of education. Ogwumike also gave the background of how her mother’s coworker encouraged her to put them into sports. Initially, according to Ogwumike, this meant gymnastics before transitioning into basketball.
She said it was her sister, Chiney, that stuck it out through those early basketball practices.
Everyone wears basketball gear. The basketball shorts, the shirt, the shoes. We’re wearing jean shorts, halter top. We had glasses with glasses holder. We were fish out of water. But my sister, she stuck through and then she taught me the game that I’ve come to love. So I give so much credit to her—and that game transformed our lives.
–Nneka Ogwumike
The host, Kobi Kihara also asked Ogwumike about her days at Stanford. She said even though the value of sport was something her parents did not entirely grasp, they encouraged her and her sister to go forward with it given the opportunities that can come from it.
When we were playing, our African parents did not really understand the potential of sport, but I’m glad they told us to attack basketball with determination because it opened so many doors.
Kihara referred to the Ogwumikes as the “Venus and Serena” of basketball. Ogwumike talked about how they did not have those “backyard battles” as she called them and that they were always collaborators and how they consistently have tried to advance themselves outside of the game of basketball.
Another important part of the conversation was how when she and Chiney began playing basketball, it received quizzical looks from those around them. The lesson learned was how sports can be used as a platform to bring about change.
We have to demystify the notion that only boys can play sports and they can only be successful in sports.
–Nneka Ogwumike
Kihara and Ogwumike also mentioned the opportunities players have to travel and see the world as well as how technology has made the world smaller in terms of how people in different countries are closer than ever.
Ogwumike was also asked about what she would want her legacy to be, beginning with a recollection of how Bill and Melinda Gates were once the commencement speakers for her class’s graduation at Stanford.
Ogwumike remembers that their message was to leave a legacy and that working with Condoleeza Rice (who encouraged her to work with several social organizations in Nigeria) made that all the more important for her.
No matter what, you can leave your legacy now. Even though we’re athletes and all we do is put a ball through a basket, I define myself by so much more.
–Nneka Ogwumike
She later took a question from the audience where a man talked about how despite the person having a great high school career that his belief was there was no future for basketball for him.
Her message was while she understands the sentiments of youth who feel discouraged about pursuing basketball, that there were WNBA and NBA players that were willing to change that and put the sport on equal footing with soccer in Africa. She even called for governments to get involved to provide the necessary infrastructure.
Ogwumike also said that while that change is taking place, also have an academic plan.
Pursue your passion, but also have your good back up plan which is academics.
Kihara also asked Ogwumike about how sports can be mismanaged in many countries. Ogwumike believes that because of social media and how active millennials are on social media that they can affect change in sports (and other areas of pop culture) in more swifter fashion than public officials could.
She also encouraged those that were questioning what it is they are pursuing to stay the course and to not give up. Ogwumike also had a message to parents to “nurture the creativity in children.”
If my parents weren’t open-minded and allowed me to play basketball, I probably would not be here today. But, fortunately they were and that really transformed our lives. And whatever we do, whatever makes your child special—use that to their advantage and you’ll see how far they’ll come.
–Nneka Ogwumike
Kihara closed out the chat with a reference to a #SomeoneTellNigeria vs. #SomeoneTellKenya feud on Twitter. The Kenyan television host’s message was to #SomeoneTellNigeria that they have “a lovely lady here” in Ogwumike.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
