The WNBA player makes a strong move as a full-time ESPN analyst
The WNBA player makes a strong move as a full-time ESPN analyst
11
NEW YORK (AP) – Chiney Ogwumike remembers that her father always told her and her sisters that every disappointment is a blessing.
The Connecticut Sun Star followed that advice, converting two injuries that ended in a season what could be a television career.
ESPN announced on Tuesday that it will be a full-time basketball analyst. At age 26, she is one of the youngest analysts in the network and one of the few women in that position.
"It's really the best of both worlds, to be able to pursue my passions on and off the court," he said. He said. "My hope is to inspire the new generation, especially young women, to continue to challenge expectations and create their own path."
Ogwumike (pronounced o-GOO & -mee-kay) is now also 100 percent healthy and ready to resume playing with the Sun this season. The training camp started last weekend.
"I'm really proud to be back with my team, I missed them," he said. "I'm happy to be back and wear a shirt."
The Sun has supported his television efforts that began in 2015 after he was injured for the first time playing in Italy. He missed the 2015 WNBA season due to a knee injury.
"I just did not try hard on rehab on the court, I also tried to get my mind and my career off the court to see what horizons there would be," Ogwumike said.
That's when he started working on the field. ESPN She credits her agent, Allison Galer, for helping her follow the new line of work.
It was a test of fire. Ogwumike co-organized some shows that covered a wide range of sports. He gave him some live television and he got hooked.
"It's strange, people on television will tell you that being on television is almost like being in a game," he said. "Being in the broadcast is very similar to being a professional athlete, you're competing, you want to do well, I love basketball, I'm a competitor, you need the same mentality to transmit."
He spent some time rehabilitating his body and working games on both the Pac-12 Network and ESPN. Ogwumike was healthy for the 2016 season, playing in the WNBA and working for part-time ESPN.
Another low season injury to his Achilles while playing in China closed the door to his WNBA season in 2017, but allowed him to work more on ESPN. She became the host of "SportsCenter Africa" and was used as an analyst in programs that talk about the NBA, the WNBA and college basketball.
He has spent the past four months getting up at 4:30 a.m. and working all morning on ESPN. continue his rehabilitation to return to the field. The strenuous schedule is worth it.
"Now I know I do not have to play 24-7 if I do not want to," Ogwumike said. "I think many times, we are WNBA salary prisoners, people go to countries in crisis, they go to far places to play, pushing their bodies to the limit, that is the strength of a WNBA player, totally blessed to play in the WNBA. "
___
Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg
