Erica Ogwumike

About:

Erica Ogwumike, born in Houston, Texas. Graduated from Rice University Cum Laude in 2020 where she was also a student athlete on the women’s basketball team. She was 2x Conference USA player of the Year, 2x Conference USA Female athlete of the Year, and All American Honorable Mention. She was the #26th pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft where she was drafted to the Minnesota Lynx. She eventually decided to pursue going to medical school in 2020. During her first year of medical school, she announced her decision to play for the Nigerian Women’s national team in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She continued training during her first year of medical school and in 2021, competed in the Tokyo Olympics with the Nigerian National Team. She is currently finishing up her third year of medical school and beginning to apply to residency in dermatology. 

Why does representation matter to you?

Representation matters to me because there is so much power in visualization. Seeing my older sisters and mentors accomplish things that I knew I wanted to in the future was powerful and gave me confidence that I too can do it. Whether it’s a family member or a stranger, being able to visualize your dreams through others truly is what representation is all about!

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud that I found a way to not give up on one of my passions in order to accomplish another. I knew my journey in sports and medical school was not going to be the conventional path of others because I had goals and feats that I wanted to accomplish. I want to be a doctor but I also wanted to be a professional athlete and I had to figure out a way to accomplish both. I am very grateful that it all worked out.

What advice would you give to someone inspired by you?

Don’t compare your path or your journey to others. You are where you are for a reason. Enjoy the process and work each day to reach your goals.