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Message: [QUOTE="EricLA, post: 4005677, member: 26"] I do think she has spoken about it - not sure if she was asked directly but... [HEADING=2][URL='https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/31772923/nneka-chiney-erica-ogwumike-all-listed-nigeria-provisional-roster-play-olympics-together-family-very-proud-of'][SIZE=4]Nneka, Chiney, Erica Ogwumike, all listed on Nigeria's provisional roster[/SIZE][/URL][/HEADING] [SIZE=4]Every article you read drones on and on about her being the "only WNBA MVP to never have made an Olympic team". Um... She was MVP in 2016. This is 5 years later. Regardless, here is some info and some quotes: It seems like a lot of info I've copied and pasted, but it's only a small portion of the fairly long article.[/SIZE] [I]Nneka contacted USA Basketball and told them she was interested in pursuing a chance to play with Nigeria. The Ogwumikes' parents, Peter and Ify, were both born in Nigeria and immigrated to the United States, where their daughters were born. The Ogwumike sisters have dual citizenship with the United States and Nigeria. USA Basketball has released both Nneka and Chiney, which was required since both previously have competed for the United States in FIBA-sanctioned events. Generally, if players have done that after having reached their 17th birthday, they are not allowed to play for another country in a FIBA event. However, according to FIBA's regulations on player eligibility, the organization's secretary general may authorize a player to compete for the national team of his or her country of origin if this is in the interest of the growth of basketball in that country.[/I] [SIZE=4]"[I]It was more of a hurt than a shock, because I had experienced it before," Nneka said of also not being named to the U.S. Olympic team in 2012 and 2016. "But there are decisions made in this life that you can't control. I allowed myself to feel the hurt, but moving on, I decided, 'I'm going to try to put matters in my own hands[/I].'" "[I]It's something I know my family would be very proud of," Nneka Ogwumike told ESPN Tuesday. "For it to happen would be such a blessing. To be able to do something big for a big part of our heritage would be fantastic. I'm hoping it will contribute to the growth we're experiencing for Africa in basketball.[/I]" "[I]The running joke was who was the family going to root for, because I was planning on playing against Erica," Nneka said of thinking she would be on Team USA. "But, you know, life unfolds in some beautiful ways: To be able to possibly share the highest athletic honor with not only Chiney, but my youngest sister[/I]."[/SIZE] "[I]I just wanted to bet on myself and also be a part of an organization that prioritizes me," she said of her hopes to play for Team Nigeria now. "My perspective was like, 'If it's not impossible, I'm going to go for it.' Because I believe I have Olympic status and I plan on being an Olympian[/I]." Nneka said she wanted to be fully open with the Nigerian federation and USA Basketball about her hopes. "[I]I didn't want it to be secretive," she said. "It was something that I wanted to do, and I would hope that they understood. And they did. In these moments, being transparent, I think, is most important[/I]." [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach