Nneka Ogwumike has always loved the global stage. She first competed as a member of the USA Women’s U18 team, which won gold at the FIBA Americas Championship back in July 2008. She delivered impressive performances with an average of 12.6 points per game and continued with the U19 team, which also won gold. That’s the kind of player she was early on. But fast forward to now, and there’s been a drought, as she hasn’t competed on the national stage since 2020, and even 2026 seems a bit difficult for her. And fans aren’t liking it!

Nneka has dual citizenship because of her parents. While she was born in the U.S., she’s got roots in Nigeria. So when Team USA didn’t pick her for the 2020 and 2024 Games, she had another option: to play for Nigeria. 

However, her hopes of competing for Nigeria have been crushed over and over again. It all comes again after her request to switch national allegiance was denied – again. She wanted to play for Nigeria at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Las Vegas, but now, she’s got no chance after USA Basketball reportedly gave its blessing for Ogwumike to try to play for Nigeria. 

Now, of course, she is understandably frustrated, and so are the fans…

Is it fair or not? Fans become the jury!

This marks the third time Ogwumike’s application has been denied. At first, she applied ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and then again before the 2024 Paris Olympics-both unsuccessful. And now, even her latest bid has met the same fate. As she put it best in an interview with The Associated Press, “After the second time trying to appeal, I made my peace with it. The third time, I was like, let me say I gave it my all. I’m kind of at the point where I’m very much over it. … It’s unfortunate, but there are just certain things you can’t control.”

When fans found out about Nneka Ogwumike’s latest bid rejection, they couldn’t help but dive into the comment section to fight for fairness. As one fan put it, “The last time she played for Team USA was in 2018. She was 28, already 11 years past the cutoff when FIBA usually allows people to switch national teams. It sounds unfair at first, but I’m not surprised.”

Ogwumike last played for the U.S. national team in 2018 and had made it clear that this third try would be her final attempt, saying, “The third time, I was like, let me say I gave it my all. I’m kind of at the point where I’m very much over it…It’s unfortunate, but there are just certain things you can’t control“.

The frustration amongst fans only multiplies, thinking that while Nneka didn’t get a chance to play, her sister, Chiney, did. And the only difference between the two of them was world championship experience. “Because Chiney never played on a world championships team, that’s why there’s different statuses,” Ogwumike said. “They also told me that if I had gotten my passport a little earlier, then my chances would have been better.”

“But what is their reason for stopping her from playing for her country? I don’t see no reason at all. … If it is for security or protection of their most valued talent, then why worry since FIBA is not being played in any African country?” penned one user.

FIBA turned down Ogwumike’s first request because it was submitted too close to the start of the 2020 Olympics. Her second attempt was also denied, this time for missing the official submission deadline. FIBA had further noted that her significant contributions to the U.S. team’s gold-medal wins at the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Cups made the switch more complicated. To add to that, FIBA enforces strict regulations that generally prevent athletes from playing for multiple senior national teams.

“My involvement with USA is, for them, their strongest point, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense to the individual that’s being penalized for it,” Ogwumike said. “You guys are going to continue using this excuse over and over again. I’m not about to beat a dead horse. I gave it an honest try, so I feel fine about it.” So yes, her final attempt is over, and FIBA’s rulebook won over Ogwumike’s hopes.

“Three rejections is crazy. FIBA should calm down,” penned another user. But actually, they can’t. Ogwumike’s dual citizenship is a major concern. If a player has two or more legal nationalities, the rules change for that player-especially when they’ve played at the highest possible stage for the country other than the one they’ve applied for. And Nigeria needed her too.

The country has been one of the up-and-coming teams in international play, but in 2024, it reached the quarterfinals of the Olympics at the Paris Games before losing to the U.S. With Ogwumike added to the roster, it would have given them a better chance to advance further. So, it’s also a blow to the Nigerian Basketball Federation.

But that’s not happening, and FIBA’s backed by some fan support too. As one user put it, “FIBA allows one naturalized player (anyone with a passport after 16, through family ties or after living a minimum number of years). But you can’t play for one country, then switch to another at the senior level. That sets a very risky precedent that many federations will exploit if allowed.” Well, yes, there’s another part to Ogwumike’s wish to compete for Nigeria. Her application came after she was left off the USA roster.

She was snubbed from the American team for the Tokyo Games despite being one of the best players, due to a knee sprain. Though her recovery would’ve gotten her back in time for the Olympics. And she was rejected again in 2024. For both years, she applied for the Nigerian national team. She wasn’t the only one rejected, though. Elizabeth Williams was also denied a chance to play for Nigeria. 

Ogwumike had further revealed that, earlier in her career, USA Basketball advised her against obtaining a passport from another country. She now hopes that her story will highlight the complexities of the selection process and raise awareness about “how people decide to pick their nationalities when they want to represent their country.”

Fans are also clamoring for a change in the rules and regulations. Let’s see if that ever happens.