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Chiney Ogwumike 'heartbroken' over sister Nneka's Olympic snub

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Los Angeles Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike says her family is "heartbroken" after her older sister and WNBA teammate Nneka Ogwumike didn't make USA Basketball's final 12-player roster ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

"Someone great is ALWAYS going to get snubbed from Team USA," Chiney wrote in a statement released on social media. "'Bad Timing.' 'Too much talent.' With so many amazing players, it comes with the territory.

"But to be told, (one), to wait your turn, and (two), you are doing everything right - including leading Team USA in scoring last year and winning MVP of the most recent Olympic qualifying tournament - and (three), you are going above and beyond in pursuit of this dream ... it just doesn't feel right."

Nneka, a six-time WNBA All-Star and the league's MVP in 2016, has represented the United States at several signature international events, including gold-medal runs during the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2014 and 2018.

However, the 30-year-old has never been named to the Olympic roster, making her the only American-born WNBA MVP who has yet to earn that distinction.

In addition to six guards and three centers, three forwards were named to Dawn Staley's squad: Seattle Storm phenom and 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart; the Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson, the 2020 MVP and Staley's former player at South Carolina; and the Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier, the 2019 Rookie of the Year.

Nneka hasn't played a WNBA game since suffering a Grade 2 left knee sprain on June 1. Staley, entering her first Olympics as head coach of America's women's team, said health concerns factored into her staff's decision.

“Breaks my heart that Nneka isn’t on this team,” Staley said, according to The Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka. “Having to make a decision today, if we had to make a decision a month from now I’m sure she’d be healthy. This was one of the things she wanted to do.”

Chiney said her sister's recovery timeline aligned perfectly with being able to suit up in Tokyo, where the Olympic women's tournament will commence on July 26.

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