Chiney Ogwumike hired as co-host for SportsCenter in Africa
By Mike Peden
Chiney Ogwumike’s media presence just got a little bit bigger.
On Wednesday, the WNBA and ESPN announced that Ogwumike will co-host the African edition of “SportsCenter.” The program will air in 19 sub-Saharan countries as part of a deal between ESPN and Econet Media’s Kwesé TV.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to combine who I am and what I am passionate about. As a Nigerian-American professional women’s basketball player, and now “SportsCenter” co-host, I want to inspire and empower rising generations across Africa and the US to pursue their dreams,” Ogwumike said in a statement.
The sub-Saharan version of “SportsCenter” will air daily, with an emphasis on American and international sports. Phil Murphy will be Ogwumike’s on-air partner.
Ogwumike, the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year, never shies about her passion for sports and media ventures. Her work with ESPN includes a guest appearance on their “First Take” program, being a correspondent for the network’s WNBA Draft coverage, and several visits to the Around the Rim podcast with LaChina Robinson. Although American viewers won’t be able to see Ogwumi
The 25-year-old also maintains a solid connection with her Nigerian lineage, making regular visits to promote the values of basketball and education. Ogwumike also interned with the Nigerian government while she was a student at Stanford.
Although American viewers won’t be able to view her anchoring skills, Ogwumike’s potential remains limitless.