Player Profile: Chioma Nnamaka

DREAM PLAYER PROFILE: CHIOMA NNAMAKA

The name Chioma literally translates to “good God” in Nigerian culture.  It is a fitting name for Atlanta Dream rookie Chioma Nnamaka, who is blessed with a talent that needs no translation. 

Nnamaka’s father, Jonathan, is Nigerian and her mother, Ann-Katrin, is Swedish.  Nnamaka’s rise to basketball stardom seems logical, given her family background.  Her older brother, Oluoma, is currently playing professionally in Italy following a career at Marquette University and her two older sisters, Azuka and Ifeanyi, both play professionally in Sweden’s highest league.  The Nnamaka family is one sibling short of fielding an intimidating starting five. 

Over 4,000 miles away, Nnamaka’s game caught the eye of collegiate coaches in the United States.  Even in her prep career, Nnamaka was already on another level, helping her teams to three Swedish Championships and earning the title “Scania Queen” in the 2003 Nordic Championships.  Having heard of Nnamaka from Jasmina Pacarzi (another Swedish player who played at Tech), Georgia Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph made the trek to Sweden to see for herself.   

The trip paid off.  Nnamaka committed to Tech before ever visiting the campus and never looked back.  She finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in three pointers made (269), started a school-record 120 games and earned honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a senior.

Nnamaka was originally selected by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the second round of the 2008 WNBA Draft with the 21st overall selection.  Fast forward to an hour later, and Nnamaka was a member of the Atlanta Dream, thanks to a draft day deal that brought Nnamaka and Camille Little to Atlanta. 

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Nnamaka said.  “Being selected by any team in the WNBA is an honor and always a great thing, but I was very, very happy to end up in Atlanta.  This is my second home, so I’m home again.”

Perhaps the people most thrilled about her homecoming are Nnamaka’s former Georgia Tech teammates, coaches and fans that pack the stands at Philips Arena.  And with her gritty play, selflessness and sweet shot, it’s no longer just the Yellow Jacket faithful in a frenzy.  Nnamaka has already become one of the fan favorites.

“It feels good to know you have supporters out there,” Nnamaka said.  “I’m just happy that the Dream overall has a lot of support-- that is the most important thing to me.  But it’s great to have old fans from Georgia Tech still be able to watch me play.” 

Nnamaka hopes her family will soon be joining the crowd.  Nnamaka’s parents made the trip to Atlanta on Georgia Tech’s Senior Night to see their daughter play for the first time in the United States.  Nnamaka’s sister plans to attend a Dream game soon, and Nnamaka hopes her parents will be able to see her play before season’s end. 

Majoring in International Affairs at Georgia Tech, Nnamaka has always wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement (as a police detective) once she finishes her basketball career.  In the meantime, she lives the life vicariously through episodes of CSI Miami while little girls live their basketball dreams through her.