Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey has brought an unbelievable amount of flooding and devastation to the Houston metropolitan area. Anyone can simply look at the images on television or on social media and find out that what is happening in Houston brings back eerie memories of what happened to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina 12 years ago.
The Ogwumike sisters are two of the most notable Houstonians within mainstream sports circles. The elder Ogwumike, the Los Angeles Sparks’ Nneka, issued this challenge to other athletes – including her sister Chiney – using the hashtag #HarveyUNited.
.@Nnemkadi30 has a challenge for @cgray209, @Candace_Parker, @Chiney321 & @JHarden13 to help Houston. #HarveyUNited pic.twitter.com/URdicqVUqx
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) August 30, 2017
Her donation was worth $1,000 and she also tagged her teammates Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray – as well as the Houston Rockets’ James Harden.
Not long after the initial challenge, this appeared on Parker’s Twitter account.
I matched my teammate $1,000! Help @Nnemkadi30 spread the word. RT PLEASE Houston Flood Relief Fund https://t.co/BUE3HP14PC via @youcaring
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) August 30, 2017
Chiney later extended the challenge to include athletes from other sports – including golf’s Michelle Wie and football’s Andrew Luck, Richard Sherman, Michael Thomas, and Doug Baldwin.
She also mentioned an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter where she challenged the WNBA to donate to Harvey recovery efforts throughout the upcoming playoffs. Her hashtag was #HarveyHoopsChallenge.
.@Chiney321 challenges @RSherman_25, @DougBaldwinJr, Andrew Luck, @Michael31Thomas & @themichellewie to be the change in HOU. #HarveyUNited pic.twitter.com/SQzZhNRjoE
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) August 30, 2017
My family is one of many in Houston dealing with #HurricaneHarvey. || Please continue to text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10 to @RedCross. pic.twitter.com/V9qRAe864g
— Chiney Ogwumike (@Chiney321) August 29, 2017
She also announced that the Sun will donate $1 for every ticket sold to their first home playoff game which will be on Sept. 12. Amber Cox, the Sun’s vice president previously worked with professional soccer teams in Houston.
When it gets really scary, that’s when we all band together. It’s really been beautiful to see the images that come out of this experience. I mean, I go on my Facebook and I see people that I’ve known forever that are taking their family one-by-one off jetskis…There are people that are banding together using boats to get people out. So, it gets scary, but at the same time, it’s a beautiful display of unity. I just wish we were better prepared.
–Chiney Ogwumike on ESPN
I challenge ALL @wnba & @NBA teams to match @ConnecticutSun's donation to RedCross. Please tweet your team! We're in this together, Houston. pic.twitter.com/KsZBXLO36x
— Chiney Ogwumike (@Chiney321) August 29, 2017
We're joining the @Pacers to contribute $20k to the relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Harvey. https://t.co/UJaTyeOwre
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 29, 2017
The WNBPA is ALL IN with @Chiney321 ?#HarveyHoopsChallenge pic.twitter.com/gTQrrGpdDr
— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) August 29, 2017
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
