Nneka Ogwumike’s dream to play for Nigeria at the Olympics is over.
The international basketball federation turned down the Storm star’s application to compete for the African nation at next year’s World Cup and at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It was the third time that FIBA has denied Ogwumike’s appeal to play for Nigeria. She had been trying to play for the country, where her parents were born, since the Tokyo Games in 2021.
“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,” Ogwumike said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “It’s unfortunate but there’s just certain things you can’t control.”
FIBA said in a statement to the AP that Ogwumike’s petition was denied.
Her first application was turned down because FIBA said she tried to switch from the U.S. to Nigeria too close to the start of the Olympics. The governing body then said her appeal to play in last year’s Paris Games came after the deadline and that she had been an important part of the U.S. national team in its victories in the 2014 and 2018 World Cup. FIBA tries to discourage athletes from playing for more than one senior national team in their careers.
SOCCER
• Joe Dale and Nick O’Brien scored and the visiting Washington men blanked No. 13 Rutgers 2-0 for their fourth straight win.
Jadon Bowton had five saves in goal for the Huskies (8-3-2, 5-1-0 Big Ten), who have not allowed a goal during the winning streak.
VOLLEYBALL
• Alexa Markley had 16 kills and 13 digs, and Simona Mateska added 13 kills and 14 digs as host Washington beat No. 17 Penn State 25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 15-13.
Zoria Heard had 27 digs, Kierstyn Barton added 14 kills, and Alexis Haury chipped in 43 assists for the Huskies (9-8, 4-3 Big Ten).
GOLF
• Washington’s Athena Ni shot a 1-over 72 and sat in a tie for 32nd place after the opening round of the women’s Stanford Intercollegiate at Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif.
CROSS COUNTRY
• Mia Cochran was the top finisher for the Washington women, finishing the 6,000-meter course in a time of 20 minutes, 23 seconds, good for 28th place at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wisc.
Nathan Neil led the UW men, finishing in 61st place in the 8,000-meter race with a time of 24:02.
HOCKEY
• Five different players scored for Everett and Raiden LeGall made 25 saves as the visiting Silvertips (8-0-1-0) beat the Penticton Vees 5-2 to remain unbeaten in regulation this season.
The Silvertips have a WHL-best 17 points this season.
• Grayson Malinoski made 40 saves, but the host Seattle Thunderbirds (3-6-0-0) fell to the Prince George Cougars 5-0.