Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)

Spotlight on WNBA Players

Awak Kuier was born in Cairo, Egypt and is of South Sudanese origin. She moved to Finland as a refugee with her family when she was two years old. She holds dual Finnish and Egyptian citizenship and speaks Italian, Arabic, Finnish, and English.

Nneka Ogwumike and Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike are Nigerian-American sisters who both play on the Los Angeles Sparks. Chiney was the first Black woman to host a national radio show for ESPN, also being the first WNBA player to do so.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa is the daughter of renowned former Kenya Morans player Sebastian Ododa. Olivia was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022. When playing for the University of Connecticut, Olivia was named the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2020-21.

Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Image

Similar to other U.S. professional sports, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is also a global sport. Since 1997, foreign-born WNBA players have comprised 22 percent of all players. Over time, foreign-born WNBA players have come from nearly every continent representing more than 50 countries, as well as U.S. Territories and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

During the 2024 WNBA season, 19 percent of WNBA players were foreign-born; a one percent increase from last year. Foreign-born WNBA players were born in 15 different countries. More than two-fifths (46%) of foreign-born WNBA players were born in either Australia, Canada, or Brazil. More than one-quarter of players on the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, and Dallas Wings were foreign-born.

During the 2024 WNBA finals, 38 percent of WNBA players were foreign-born. This percentage is significantly higher compared to last year (22%) and in 2022 (8%).

Of the 36 players selected in the 2024 WNBA draft, one-third (33%) were born abroad. Additionally, foreign-born WNBA players who were drafted were born in nine different countries.

For a fact sheet on WNBA players during the 2024 season, click on the below link:

2024 WNBA Players

For a fact sheet on prior WNBA seasons, click on the below link:

2023 WNBA Players

2022 WNBA Players

Spotlight on WNBA Players

Awak Kuier was born in Cairo, Egypt and is of South Sudanese origin. She moved to Finland as a refugee with her family when she was two years old. She holds dual Finnish and Egyptian citizenship and speaks Italian, Arabic, Finnish, and English.

Nneka Ogwumike and Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike are Nigerian-American sisters who both play on the Los Angeles Sparks. Chiney was the first Black woman to host a national radio show for ESPN, also being the first WNBA player to do so.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa is the daughter of renowned former Kenya Morans player Sebastian Ododa. Olivia was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022. When playing for the University of Connecticut, Olivia was named the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2020-21.