Thumbs-up is certainly a perfect way to describe Erica Ogwumike's athletic career at Cy-Woods.
Photo by John Godwin
Following in the footsteps of an older brother or sister is never easy. The older sisters of
Erica Ogwumike didn't do her any favors.
Ogwumike is the fourth in a line of sisters who have built impressive resumes during their athletic careers. Oldest sister Nneka was the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2008 while playing basketball for Cy-Fair. She later went on to a standout career at Stanford where she finished as the school's second all-time leading scorer. From there she was the No. 1 overall player selected in the WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks and was also named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Chiney, the second-oldest sister, has been equally impressive. She earned Gatorade National Athlete of the Year honors in 2010 for her prowess on the volleyball and basketball courts and she, too, has had a stellar career at Stanford. The Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2013, Chiney enters her senior season with the Cardinal in 2013-14.
See the special Erica Ogwumike photo galleryThen there is Olivia, who is a senior at
Cy-Woods (Cypress, Texas) with Erica. She has been a standout on the volleyball and basketball teams for the Wildcats for the past three seasons.
Erica poses with her mother, Ify Owgumike.
Photo by John Godwin
Finally there is Erica, a junior, who appears more than capable of carrying on the family tradition. She is the fourth daughter of Peter and Ify Ogwumike, both of whom emigrated from Nigeria. Peter works for a computer company while Ify is a school administrator in the Houston area.
"My family, especially my parents, are the whole foundation to the reason I play sports," said Erica. "They have instilled in me qualities of persistence and determination, which I use while on the court."
Erica has shown the same dynamic versatility as her older sisters, excelling at several sports throughout her youth.
"I became involved in sports just like every other kid," she said. "I started with recreational soccer and gymnastics leagues and so on. Once I found a sport that I really had a passion for, I stuck to it."
As a sophomore at Cy-Woods, those sports were volleyball and basketball. She helped the Wildcats win district championships in both sports and rank among the top teams in the nation. She also earned all-district honors in both sports while receiving all-state accolades in basketball.
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