FIBA Rejects Ogwumike’s Third Appeal To Play For Nigeria

By TAYO TAIWO (T.T.) OLUWOLE

SEATTLE Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike’s bid to represent Nigeria has ended after FIBA rejected her application for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics—her third consecutive denial.

Ogwumike, 34, first sought to switch from Team USA before the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, but FIBA ruled the request came too late. Subsequent appeals were declined due to her previous key role in the U.S. team’s 2014 and 2018 World Cup victories.

Accepting the decision, Ogwumike told the Associated Press she had “made peace with it,” adding, “I gave it my all. It’s unfortunate, but there are some things you can’t control.”

The ruling ends her long-standing dream of playing for her parents’ home country, Nigeria.