Chicago Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere is heading to the Olympic Games in Paris as part of the Nigeria women's basketball roster, but the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has not been able to prise Arike Ogunbowale from USA Basketball.
Onyenwere, 24, will join what will be a reinvigorated D'Tigress squad in Paris, which will also include Elizabeth Balogun and the returning Ezinne Kalu.
"We have been talking to Michaela and she will be on our roster to the Olympics," NBBF vice-president Babs Ogunade told ESPN.
Onyenwere will not be the only strong addition to the Nigeria squad.
Kalu, one of the players who lost their place in the squad in the wake of the player protest against the NBBF over unpaid allowances, is expected to return for the Games.
"With Promise [Amukamara] and Ezinne, our backcourt is well taken care of," Ogunade told ESPN. "It is no weaker than what we had at the last Olympics. And then we have Liz [Balogun] and Amy [Okonkwo] among others."
There will be no place for Dallas Wings' Ogunbowale, however. The guard removed herself from consideration for the U.S. women's team but she will not be able to represent Nigeria, with her case being similar to that of Nneka Ogwumike ahead of the the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Onyenwere was selected sixth overall in the first round of the 2021 WNBA Draft, and she got off to a flying start with New York Liberty; her average of 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, plus 37 three-pointers made, was the highest among all rookies in her class.
Such production meant she won every Rookie of the Month award to become just the fifth player in league history to complete that sweep. She capped a fantastic season by winning the Rookie of the Year award, falling just two votes shy of a unanimous win, and making the All Rookie Team of the Year.
An injury-plagued second season saw her minutes and production drop, and she was traded to Phoenix Mercury for the 2023 season; her numbers went up, and she finished the season by averaging a career-high 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals.
Onyenwere was traded to Chicago Sky in February, but she has found her minutes restricted, averaging just 10.9, with Angel Reese taking the forward role in the starting five.
Still, Onyenwere is expected to be a big plus for the D'Tigress at the Games. She has not spoken about her international representation as yet, but she has never shied away from speaking about her Nigerian roots
"I am the daughter of Nigerian immigrants," she said on the WNBA's 'Naija - MADE' YouTube show. "Both my mum and my dad were born in Nigeria. It is such an honour to represent Nigeria.
"I am just so proud to be Nigerian, and I never let anyone forget it," she said in another show on YouTube, 'On Her Mark'. "I make sure I let people know I am Nigerian because it is a big part of who I am, and the Nigerian community has completely embraced me.
"From Draft Night, I was getting messages from young Nigerian kids who are in Nigeria, saying you are an inspiration. You don't really think those things until you see those messages. Like, I am influencing people in a different continent. They've supported me from day one and I am grateful and appreciative of the support I have received from the Nigerian community."
Speaking of the 2021 WNBA Draft, Onyenwere's post-draft interview went viral after her grandmother broke into a traditional dance to celebrate her selection by the Liberty
Speaking to Players Tribune, Onyenwere said. "Yes, that was my grandma going crazy in the background when Holly Rowe was interviewing me. She asked to see my mom's jacket, and before I knew it, my grandma got up and started doing her dance, saying 'I'm the grandma.' Hahaha. The thing people don't understand is that my grandma is Nigerian, so this wasn't something for the cameras. That's just her 24/7 365."
Nigeria face a tough pool in Paris, where they have been drawn against teams ranked in the top 10, including hosts France (No. 7), Canada (No. 5) and Australia (No. 3). D'Tigress, ranked No. 12, will open their campaign against Australia on July 29.