The Seattle Storm is in fifth place with a 12-8 record in the WNBA 2025 season. Despite high-profile signings and drafts, the side heavily depends on its experienced star, Nneka Ogwumike. The member of W25 is making big plays and impacting the franchise, and has also taken rookies under her wing.
The forward is again in the news, but not for her court plays. The Stanford forward, who won two World Cups (2014, 2018) for the USA, does not want to play for the country anymore. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, she opted out of Team USA and showed her support for Nigeria. She is seeking confirmation from FIBA to play for her motherland.
Nneka Ogwumike Seeking FIBA Clearance To Play For Nigeria
According to the report, Nneka Ogwumike is again looking to get a nod from the FIBA to represent Nigeria internationally. After successful years with the USA, she first refused to play for the country in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Since then, she has been trying to get approval to play for D’Tigress.
“The application for changes of my nationality has been in the works since I said that I was not playing for the USA anymore, so we are waiting to hear back from FIBA. Hopefully, I can still represent Nigeria at the next Olympics, maybe, Ogwumike told RG.
However, the forward made a similar request in 2021 but was denied by the FIBA. As per the rules, if a player has represented one nation’s team in a FIBA-sanctioned event by age 17, that player isn’t allowed to play for another country in such an event. The 2012 first-overall pick had been part of the USA’s sides for U-18 events and won gold medals for the country in U18, U19, and World University games.
Nneka Ogwumike has Nigerian ancestry. Her parents, Peter and Ify Ogwumike, were born in Nigeria. They moved to the United States, where Nneka and her sisters were raised in Houston, Texas. Nneka and her family identify as Nigerian-American.
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Interestingly, the US women’s basketball body has given clearance to the 35-year-old forward. FIBA, though, is strict about its rules and did not allow Ogwumike to play for a second country.
Nneka Ogwumike’s Impressive Career
The 2012 first overall pick won the Rookie of the Year award and All WNBA Rookie first team honors. She was selected by the LA Sparks and spent 12 seasons with the franchise. She won the regular-season MVP award in 2016 and the WNBA championship in the same season.
The 10-time All-Star plays a key role in the Seattle Storm’s progress in the 2025 season. She averages 17 points, eight rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. She will play for Team Collier in the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game. The powerful forward also played in the European leagues. She won the EuroLeague title (2017) and the Polish National League title (2013).