Chiney Ogwumike, born on March 21, 1992, is a professional basketball player in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She plays for the Los Angeles Sparks.
In 2020, she made history by becoming the first Black woman and WNBA player to host a national radio show on ESPN. She’s also one of the youngest commentators to be an NBA analyst for ESPN, where she talks about NBA, WNBA, and other sports, all while playing in the WNBA.
Chiney went to Stanford University and studied International Relations. She had an impressive college basketball career, making it to three Final Fours and being a top scorer and rebounder in her conference as of January 3, 2014.
In 2016, she became the Vice-President of the WNBA Players Association and signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas. Then, in May 2018, she signed a long-term contract with ESPN to work as a full-time basketball analyst.
Who is Chiney Ogwumike’s husband, and what were the highlights of their dream wedding? In this captivating piece, we’ll delve into the personal life of the WNBA star, Chiney Ogwumike, and uncover the enchanting details of her wedding ceremony, painting a vivid picture of the joyous occasion.
Chiney Ogwumike Husband
Wedding bells have rung for Chinenye “Chiney” Ogwumike. According to The Knot, the 31-year-old ESPN anchor and two-time WNBA All-Star just announced her marriage to 33-year-old heavyweight fighter and mechanical engineer Ethasor “Raphael” Akpejiori on Monday.
Over the course of four days, the happy couple celebrated their marriage with not one, but two wedding ceremonies, and Ogwumike wore no less than ten distinct bridal gowns.
More than 900 people flocked to the Igbo Catholic Community Center in Houston, Texas, for a traditional Nigerian ceremony on November 16 after a welcome reception on November 15 at Ogwumike’s family home. Akpejiori hails from Lagos, Nigeria, while Ogwumike is a first-generation Nigerian American.
found my african giant 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/RzvvdQe1FL
— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) November 17, 2023
Chiney Ogwumike and Raphael Akpejiori Wedding Celebration
Chinenye “Chiney” Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks and Ethasor “Raphael” Akpejiori of the heavyweight boxing world tied the knot in a memorable multi-day ceremony that merged love, culture, and athletics. Over 900 people came out to witness the beautiful marriage of two souls and the vibrant exhibition of Nigerian culture that started on November 15th.
The Igbo Catholic Community Center in Houston was the venue of choice for the traditional Nigerian ceremony of Ogwumike and Akpejiori, who are both first-generation Nigerian Americans and originally from Lagos, Nigeria. Ogwumike said that the gathering was a “royal celebration of Nigerian culture, family, and community.” That was his description of the event.
There were three separate phases to the ceremonial rites, which had their origins in Ogwumike’s Igbo heritage. After the bride and husband were introduced, the magical “Wine Carry” stage began, where Ogwumike, in the middle of a throng, sought out Akpejiori.
They were blessed by her parents after she found him and brought him palm wine, a sign of their union. At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds were formally introduced as a married pair, and Ogwumike was officially transformed into an Edo bride, fully immersed in her husband’s culture.
With no less than ten distinct styles, Ogwumike’s wedding dress was a true show-stopper. Sapphire Lily’s white beaded Igbo costume and Anulika Ugwu’s blue gown both represented her preparedness for marriage and her status as a maiden. Similarly designed by Anulika Ugwu, her post-wedding attire was a traditional Edo red strapless gown bedecked with coral beads.
Traditional Nigerian foods were served at the celebration’s buffet. The couple and their guests continued the celebrations after the wedding ceremony by going to a Burna Boy concert—a throwback to their first date and anniversary party—to commemorate the occasion.
On November 18th, 700 guests showed up for a “white wedding” ceremony, which kept the celebration going. The unique wedding gown that Ogwumike wore was the brainchild of Nigerian designer Nneka Alexander of Brides by Nona. A 10-foot detachable train adorned the traditional Nigerian outfit. A black party dress with ombré beading and hip cutouts was her subsequent choice.
HAPPY MARRIED LIFE ❤️
American-born basketball star Chiney Ogwumike weds Nigerian boxer Raphael Akpejiori.#PulseSportsNigeria pic.twitter.com/Rby3qrAPtV
— Pulse Sports Nigeria (@PulseSportsNG) November 23, 2023
Celebrities such as WNBA player Lisa Leslie and lawmaker Sheila Jackson Lee were among the guests at the event. A medley of southern and Nigerian dishes graced the dinner menu. In 2024, the pair will take lengthy weekend getaways to Bora Bora and Aruba as “mini-moons” to escape their hectic work schedules. May of 2024 will mark the start of the WNBA season.
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Who is Raphael Akpejiori?
Born on October 10, 1990, in the Surulere neighborhood of Lagos, Nigeria, Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori spent his formative years there. Of his siblings, he has five. He attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas, after relocating there in 2008 on a basketball scholarship when he was seventeen years old.
After accepting a basketball scholarship offer from the University of Miami, he relocated to Miami, Florida, in 2010. He later changed his sport to American football and was invited to the rookie training camp of the Miami Dolphins. Mechanical engineering is his field of study; he has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Raphael Akpejiori Professional Career
In his professional debut on September 14, 2018, Akpejiori defeated Omar Acosta via first-round technical knockout (TKO) at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. He was trained by former world champion Glen Johnson and was promoted by CES Boxing.
In November, Akpejiori defeated James Advincola by technical knockout. In 2019, he continued his winning streak with three consecutive first-round stoppage victories: a KO in June against Leo Cassiani, a TKO in July against Johan Lopez, and a TKO in August against Jose Pulido. In January of 2020, Akpejiori defeated Mike Ford by technical knockout in the second round.
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