On the court, Chiney receives her second straight WNBA Rookie of the Month award. She is bombarded by hugs and flashes from cellphone cameras. Nneka and Chiney will be opponents again. Nneka Ogwumike’s parents, Peter and Ify, were born within a hundred miles of each other, in Nigeria. As always, Chiney hams it up for the cameras and gives wordy answers to every question. Their parents, Ify and Peter, grew up there before attending college in the United States. She is also inspiring. It is a good platform for us, and one we can use to bring awareness.". "For me growing up, athletics and extracurricular were frowned upon," Ify said. The oldest, Nneka, 23, also attended Stanford and plays for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and the Guangdong Dolphins in China. Her mother is a longtime school administrator while her father is tech consultant who splits his time between Nigeria and Houston. After being teammates at Cy-Fair and Stanford, Nneka, left, and Chiney Ogwumike finally get a chance to compete against each other in the WNBA. Nick Saban to Jimbo Fisher: Did you mean golf? The day is over. Chiney returns the favor, pushing her away. There isn't a tall building in sight other than the massive Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino. She grew up with her three younger sisters Chinenye, Olivia, and Erica Ogwumike. In an area of the country that appreciates women's basketball more than perhaps any other, fans and media gather to see the Ogwumike show. The sisters, who had to be at the arena by midmorning Sunday for their 1 p.m. game, leave the gym with their mom and drive off in the twilight for a home-cooked meal together and a bit of relaxation before the hysteria begins. Chiney and Nneka wave to each other as they separate. Sue McGowen, the former Cy-Fair principal, is coming from Houston. She does it flawlessly this game, making her first seven shots. The two, equipped with giant gym duffel bags, walk to Chiney's car. Peter owns a tech company called Automated Systems. She hasn't decided where to go to college yet, but will have several academic and athletic options. Solomon: American sports culture wouldn’t be same without Texas. In fact, when Nneka and Chiney were in high school and got home from games, we never even discussed them. Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike (born March 21, 1992) is a Nigerian-American professional women's basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Sister Olivia also plays at Rice. Now, they are WNBA All-Stars, marking the first time sisters have earned that honor. Along with what they have accomplished on the basketball court, they also carry good reputations in the classroom and the community. They haven't just loved the sport, they have excelled. USA Basketball forward Nneka Ogwumike’s parents, Ify and Peter, were born in Nigeria, and then eventually moved to the United States. Ify is often the one at home running the show, getting the girls to and from their practices and games and making sure they are getting their school work and studying done. She gladly moves to make room for the media horde surrounding Nneka. As the former Cy-Fair standout prepares to make her final NCAA Tournament run with Stanford, starting Saturday against South Dakota in Ames, Iowa, she hopes to make several more pregame calls to her mother. Chiney, second from left, and Nneka Ogwumike, right, hosted a girls basketball clinic in partnership with UNICEF last weekend at St. Bernard High School in Montville, Conn. A new book details the state’s importance as a national trendsetter in multiple fields of play. Ify Ogwumike follows her two oldest daughters into the gym at St. Bernard's High School in Uncasville. The two laugh, talking about how they will be miked up during the game. She jumps up and down with her cousins, then gives Nneka a big hug. Like Nneka, she had several scholarship offers and like Nneka, she chose Stanford because she wanted a true student-athlete experience. She talks with the kids of the team's massage therapist and takes one of their phones for a selfie. Sparks guard Lindsay Harding also played at Cy-Fair and, like Nneka and Chiney, was a No. They wave to their family and friends, all still standing up and cheering at their seats. Giving anything less than a full effort or quitting was not allowed. But now, unfortunately, it's time to part ways. Nneka stays behind with Chiney. The family still travels there regularly, and Chiney spent six weeks in Nigeria last year for an internship as part of her Stanford studies. They have never had a sibling rivalry, never competed against each other in any way and certainly have never been on opposing teams. "It's so good for girls in Houston to see this.". "Did you guys have any trash-talking going on?" That includes Ify, who kept her promise and stayed at her seat the whole game. At a table at the entrance, two young women hand Chiney and Nneka teal T-shirts with "UNICEF" in white across the front. Peter runs a technology company; Ify is the principal of their daughters' former middle school. Ify Ogwumike's cellphone rings two hours before each Stanford women's basketball game. After Nneka and Chiney finish the clinic and stick around for photos with all the participants, they find their mother and get ready to head back to Chiney's apartment. They could participate in sports or clubs or anything, but their schoolwork had to come first.". "Sparks fly, Sun shines" is printed on the front, along with both team logos and her daughters' jersey numbers. Chiney Ogwumike shares her expertise with the girls participating in a basketball clinic she conducted with her sister Nneka last weekend in Connecticut. Ify sits in the bleachers of the old gym, tattered state championship banners hanging from the rafters. Summary: Ify Ogwumike is 54 years old today because Ify's birthday is on 04/16/1966. They were so driven to succeed in the classroom, in fact, that Nneka and Chiney started the internet sensation Nerd Nation videos where they rap about being student-athletes. She is pensive and carefully chooses her words and actions. Chiney is living by herself for the first time in her life in the small Connecticut town of Groton, about 15 miles from Mohegan Sun. "It has always been important to me to make the most of my education at Stanford," Chiney said. Background Checks. She engages them, asking about the games they have on their phones and giving them high-fives. The pregame hours are hectic for Chiney and Nneka. Ifeyinwa N Ogwumike, Ifeyinwa N Atuanya, Ifeynwa N Ogwumike, Isy N Atuanya and Ify N Ogwumike are some of the alias or nicknames that Ify … "Chiney has done so many wonderful things. Her daughters have played for more than a decade. Nneka Ogwumike’s parents, Peter and Ify, were born within a hundred miles of each other, in Nigeria. All four Ogwumike sisters played college basketball, with Nneka and Chiney reaching the WNBA. She talks to Sun staff members around the building. And Ify will be ready to answer them all. Chiney Ogwumike’s Family and Boyfriend. HOUSTON – For the first time in a long time, the Ogwumike household is full. Majoring in business and pre law. "We all have an internal compass that tells us where to go," she said. They still need to warm up. Peter owns and operates a technology firm and frequently travels to Nigeria on business. And although they should be clearing the hallway, the guards don't dare say a word. Ify will be happy with whatever she chooses. Whitepages people search is the most trusted directory. I am very proud of her and know she will continue to be great in anything she does.". And it's about a special spotlight on the Ogwumike sisters, who are stars on the court but also will make time for charitable work that focuses on females in Nigeria. people phone They are just sisters. So when her daughters watched their mother, Ify made sure she was practicing what she preached. Ify Atuanya Ogwumike is on Facebook. Parker is one of the WNBA's best players, but this isn't her day. The uplifting words from her mother give Chiney perspective - it's not just about basketball, it's about hard work, perseverance and a good attitude. With COVID-19 sweeping the country, the family came back together where it all started. The World Cup final has just started, and Peter and Ufo, waiting in the hallway, are checking updates on their phones. The family and friends gather and wait in a dark hallway in the arena. 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