Chiney Ogwumike has had a unique journey at ESPN. The two-time WNBA all-star is still an active member of the Los Angeles Sparks, but she has made time to stay active with the network. Apparently both sides are happy with the arrangement. She tweeted on Tuesday that she had a new contract in Bristol.
Ogwumike is already a regular presence on ESPN’s NBA studio programming. In addition to NBA Today and NBA Countdown, viewers will soon see her at the broadcast table. She told Variety that she will be an analyst for select NBA games on the network this season.
“We don’t have many women analysts outside of Doris Burke calling NBA games on linear TV,” she said. “That’s the next challenge for me. I’ve called women’s basketball games. I know how to call a basketball game, but I like to make sure to master my craft before I jump into another one.”
ESPN has only had Chiney Ogwumike on its roster since 2016. In that short amount of time, they have already given the WNBA star a variety of different experiences, including briefly hosting a nationally syndicated radio show with Mike Golic Jr. She eventually gave that up to return to the WNBA.
“Chiney is an exceptional talent who continues to raise the bar of what a professional athlete and high-level broadcaster can be in simultaneous fashion,” David Roberts, ESPN’s head of NBA and studio production, told Variety. “We have the utmost confidence in Chiney and we’re proud of her continued evolution as an analyst and host.”
