Chiney Ogwumike: Last News

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Chiney Ogwumike has big plans after striking a new deal with ESPN that extends her stay there and is certain to expand her presence. The 6′ 4″ Los Angeles Sparks forward is gearing up to start calling NBA games for ESPN, adding to her regular presence on “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown.” She has many other duties, including a thriving career in the WNBA, where she was the first overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft from Stanford University, and the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year and a two-time WNBA All-Star. She is also the vice president of the WNBA Players Association. “We don’t have many women analysts outside of Doris Burke calling NBA games,” says Ogwumike, in an interview, adding: “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.”

NBA Today, host Malika Andrews and WNBA player turned analyst Chiney Ogwumike are applying full-court pressure, Ari Lennox–style, to professional basketball news. “And we do it with some flavor,” Ogwumike says.The rising stars understand that sometimes in sports media, you have to be seen before you’re heard—and both Ogwumike and Andrews take the responsibility of making sure that Black women are seen, seriously.

Call your designer, get your hair done, and don’t forget to swab your nostrils — it’s finally time to party as Academy Awards week comes out of the pandemic. While there’s some of the old standards returning after a year’s dormancy during Covid, largely MIA this year are any studio-or-streamer sponsored parties/dinners (except for Warner Bros). But of course, they always can pop up as we head down the runway toward Oscar gold. Please send any event or party details to anthony@deadline.com. Most events are by invite-only.