Michaela Onyenwere facts for kids
.jpg)
Onyenwere with the Chicago Sky in 2024
|
|
| No. 12 – Chicago Sky | |
|---|---|
| Forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 10, 1999 Aurora, Colorado, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Nigerian |
| High school | Grandview (Aurora, Colorado) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 178 lb (81 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UCLA (2017–2021) |
| NBA Draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the New York Liberty | |
| Pro career | 2021–present |
| League | WNBA |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2022 | New York Liberty |
| 2021–2022 | Spar Girona |
| 2022–2023 | CB Avenida |
| 2023 | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2023–2024 | OGM Ormanspor |
| 2024–present | Chicago Sky |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Michaela Nne Onyenwere (born August 10, 1999) is a talented Nigerian-American basketball player. She currently plays as a forward for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Before becoming a professional, she played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins.
Contents
Her Early Life and College Basketball Journey
Michaela Onyenwere showed great basketball skills from a young age. She became a top player in high school before moving on to college.
High School Achievements
In 2017, while still in high school, Michaela was named a McDonald's All-American. This is a special honor given to the best high school basketball players in the United States.
UCLA College Career
Michaela played college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She was a key player for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team.
After her first year (the 2017–18 season), Michaela was chosen for the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. This means she was one of the best first-year players in the Pac-12 Conference.
In her second year (the 2018–19 season), she continued to shine. She was named to the All-Pac-12 team, which recognizes the top players in the conference. She was also great at getting offensive rebounds, ranking second in the Pac-12 for that skill. After this season, she earned a spot on the 2019 U.S. Pan-American Games Women's Basketball Team. This team represents the United States in international competitions.
During her third year (the 2019–20 season), Michaela was again named to the All-Pac-12 team. She also received national recognition, being named a Third-Team All-American by both the Associated Press (AP) and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). These awards honor the best college basketball players in the country.
In her final college year (the 2020–21 season), Michaela made the All-Pac-12 team for the third year in a row. She was also named an AP and USBWA Third-Team All-American once more. She was a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award, which goes to the best small forward in women's college basketball. Michaela finished her college career as the fourth-highest scorer in UCLA history, with 1,888 points.
Playing Professionally in the WNBA
Michaela Onyenwere began her professional basketball career in the WNBA in 2021.
Starting with the New York Liberty
In the 2021 WNBA draft, Michaela was picked 6th overall by the New York Liberty. The WNBA draft is where professional teams choose new players from college.
In her first year (her rookie season) in 2021, Michaela had an amazing start. She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. This made her the first player in New York Liberty history to win this award. She was the top rookie for most of the season, winning every Rookie of the Month award. She was almost a unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year.
Michaela started in 29 out of 32 games in her rookie season. She was the most productive player among all the rookies. On average, she scored 8.6 points and grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game. She also led all rookies in scoring and in the number of 3-pointers she made (37).
In her second season with the Liberty (2022), Michaela's role changed. She came off the bench more often and started only one game. She also dealt with some minor injuries. Because the Liberty added new star players like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones before the 2023 season, Michaela was traded to another team.
Moving to the Phoenix Mercury
On February 11, 2023, Michaela was traded to the Phoenix Mercury. This trade involved four different teams. With the Mercury, she started 27 out of 40 games and set new personal bests in many areas. However, it was a tough season for the Mercury, who finished with a record of 9 wins and 31 losses.
Joining the Chicago Sky
On February 6, 2024, Michaela was traded again, this time to the Chicago Sky. She was part of a big trade that also involved other players and draft picks. In the first part of the 2024 season, she had limited playing time. But after the Olympic break, she earned a spot in the starting lineup for the Sky.
Playing Basketball Overseas
When the WNBA season is over, many players go overseas to play basketball in other countries. Michaela has also played for teams outside the United States.
In December 2021, she joined Uni Girona CB, a team in the Spanish Liga Femenina de Baloncesto.
In December 2022, she played for another Spanish team called CB Avenida.
During the 2023–2024 offseason, she played for OGM Ormanspor in the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League.
Images for kids
-
Onyenwere with the Chicago Sky in 2024
-
Onyenwere with the New York Liberty in 2022
