A conversation with Nicole

Jayda Evans (Seattle Times) speaks with Nicole Powell ('04) about her probable last season in the WNBA and her expectations of the upcoming season as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon: Nicole Powell found basketball home

Chiney nominated for 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year

Each year, the NCAA recognizes the top female student-athletes for outstanding performance in athletics, academic achievements, community service and leadership.

Chiney has been named as one of the top 30 honorees — ten women from each of the three divisions, spanning various NCAA sports.

Read more here:

The NCAA announcement, which lists the top 30 honorees.

The Stanford Athletics announcement, which reports the achievements for which Chiney earned the nomination.

Chiney is WNBA Rookie of the Year

It's been predicted all season, and yesterday it finally happened: Chiney received the WNBA Rookie of the Year award.

Here's the Associated Press report: Chiney Ogwumike is rookie of the year

And here's a nice story about Chiney and Nneka by Aaron Fischman (Swish Appeal), written recently in anticipation of Chiney's winning the award: Chiney Ogwumike's winning character shaped by relationship with sister Nneka

Chiney invited to USA Basketball training camp

Chiney has been added to the pool of 27 players who are trying out for the USA Basketball National Women's team that will participate in the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

Read more in the USA Basketball announcement.

Who will make it into the WNBA postseason?

The WNBA playoffs begin in just a week (on Thursday, August 21), but the final playoff berth in each conference is not yet determined.

Jake Curtis (examiner.com) reports which Stanford alumnae are likely to participate in postseason play in: Five former Stanford players trying to make WNBA playoffs

There are actually six former Cardinal in the mix. Curtis omitted Candice Wiggins, who will be playing in the postseason with the Los Angeles Sparks. Candice missed eight weeks of play after having meniscus repair surgery early in the season. Since then she has played about 15 minutes per game and averaged 1.6 points, 0.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 rebounds.

A step up for Ros

Ros has been hired by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area as the sideline reporter for Golden State Warriors games. She has previous pro basketball broadcast experience as color commentator for both New York Liberty games and the NBA D-League's Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State's affiliate).

Sparks win first Ogwumike contest

The Sun and the Sparks looked well-matched for the first half, which ended with the Sparks ahead by just 6 points, 44-38.

But the Sparks surged ahead in the 3rd quarter and outscored the Sun 30-10. The game ended with a big 90-64 win for the Sparks.

Both sisters had excellent games. Nneka was the Sparks' leading scorer with 24 points. She also tallied an assist, seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Chiney led the Sun in scoring (18) and rebounding (six, all offensive) and stole the ball twice.

Kayla came off the bench for the Sun for 15 minutes, during which she tallied four points and a rebound.

Candice, who is recovering from knee surgery (meniscus repair), played for 14 minutes for the Sparks, but did not score.

Here are:

• The espnW game recap: Sparks surge past Sun in 1st meeting between Ogwumike sisters,


• A story about the game from Palo Alto Online: Nneka grabs Ogwumike family bragging rights in Sparks' win,


• The box score,


• Photos of Nneka and Chiney:
  They're each other's best fan

  

  They signed autographs before the game

  

  Chiney won the WNBA Rookie of the Week award

  

  Chiney boxes out Nneka

  

  Nneka grabs the rebound

  

  Nneka on defense against Chiney

  

  Chiney on defense against Nneka

  

Ogwumike sisters set to square off

Mechelle Voepel (espnW) writes:

Sunday in Connecticut, Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike will square off as foes for the first time in their WNBA careers. They really don't look forward to it, although they're as upbeat as ever in talking about it.

Click here for the story.

Ogwumike family reunion on Sunday

Nneka and Chiney, teammates in high school and college, will play against each other for the first time on Sunday when Nneka's Los Angeles Sparks visit Chiney's Connecticut Sun.

Kayla Pedersen, who plays for the Sun, and Candice Wiggins, who plays for the Sparks, may also be called in from the bendh.

The game is scheduled for Sunday July 13 at 10 am PT. It will be televised by NBATV and streamed to the internet by WNBA LiveAccess.

Read more...

Keeping up with Chiney

Chiney blogs about her life in Connecticut and her graduation from Stanford in Thriving on Transition