BREAKING: Cy Woods, Rice star Erica Ogwumike drafted by New York Liberty, traded to Minnesota Lynx
HOUSTON - A third Ogwumike is heading to the WNBA.
On Friday night, Erica Ogwumike, the youngest sister of the four, was drafted by the New York Liberty with the 26th pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft and then traded to the Minnesota Lynx for Stephanie Talbot. Ogwumike joins her sisters Chiney and Nneka in the league, who both play for the Los Angeles Sparks.
Ogwumike starred at Cy Woods High School for four years, leading the Wildcats to the 2015 Class 6A State Championship. Ogwumike was the MVP of that title game. In her high school career, Ogwumike played in 143 games and scored 2,227 points and had 1,141 rebounds.
Once Ogwumike left Cy Woods, she went to Pepperdine for a year where she played for one year before transferring back home to Rice University.
LEAGUE BOUND | Erica Ogwumike is headed to New York after being drafted by the @NYLiberty!
Go be the ⭐️ we know you are.@Ogwumi13 x #WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/E924dzNyBa
— Rice Women's Basketball (@RiceWBB) April 18, 2020
After redshirting, Ogwumike became the first-ever Rice player to earn Conference USA Newcomer of the Year in the 2017-2018 season. She finished that year ranked fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game. Rice reached the WNIT that year.
Last year, Ogwumike helped make history at Rice.
The junior helped lead Rice back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 and for the third time in program history. Ogwumike averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to become the first-ever player to ever win C-USA Player of the Year and was also named C-USA Female Athlete of the Year as well.
This season, which was cut short, due to COVID-19, Ogwumike averaged 19 points per game and was poised to lead her team back to the NCAA Tournament before the season ended early. She was named the Conference USA Player of Year for a second-straight season.
