Abi Olajuwon
Connecticut Sun
PositionAssistant Coach
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1988-07-06) July 6, 1988 (age 35)
Houston, Texas
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolMarlborough School
(Los Angeles, California)
CollegeOklahoma (2006–2010)
WNBA draft2010: 3rd round, 28th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career2010–2013
PositionCenter
Number21, 34
Coaching career2014–present
Career history
As player:
2010Chicago Sky
2010SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr
2011CSM Satu Mare
2011Tulsa Shock
2011–2012Hapoel Rishon LeZion
2012ŽKK Novi Zagreb
2012BC Castors Braine
2012Esportivo Ourinhos
2012Heilongjiang Chenneng
2013Caja Rural Zamarat
As coach:
2014–2016Cal State Fullerton (assistant)
2016–2018Eastern Michigan (assistant)
2023–presentConnecticut Sun (assistant)
Stats at WNBA.com

Alon Abisola Arisicate Ajoke Olajuwon, better known as Abi Olajuwon (born July 6, 1988) is a Nigerian-American basketball coach and former player. Currently, she is an assistant coach for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.

Olajuwon is the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon. Her name, Abisola Olajuwon, means "born into wealth and loved by all".[1]

Playing career

High school and college

Born in Houston, Texas, Olajuwon played varsity basketball for her Californian high school, Marlborough School, and helped her team win three consecutive Southern Section titles. Olajuwon was a 2006 McDonald's All-American,[1] and was one of the most prized recruits of the 2006 graduating high school class.[1][2] She played college basketball at the University of Oklahoma, and ESPN basketball analyst Nancy Lieberman stated before the 2006–07 season that the addition of Olajuwon would help propel the Sooners into contention for the NCAA championship.[3]

In 2010, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism and electronic media at the University of Oklahoma.[4]

Oklahoma statistics

Source[5]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006–07 Oklahoma 17 37 48.4% 0.0% 58.3% 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 2.2
2007–08 Oklahoma 19 36 40.0% 0.0% 88.9% 3.2 0.1 0.4 0.1 1.9
2008–09 Oklahoma 27 37 31.7% 0.0% 55.0% 2.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 1.4
2009–10 Oklahoma 38 401 50.6% 0.0% 61.7% 7.3 0.5 0.5 0.9 10.6
Career 101 511 47.8% 0.0% 62.1% 4.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 5.1

Professional

Olajuwon was drafted 28th overall (third round) by the Chicago Sky in the 2010 WNBA draft. However, she was waived during the season.[6] After being waived, Olajuwon signed with Hungarian SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr,[7] and later played for CSM Satu Mare (Romania).[8]

In 2011, Olajuwon returned to the WNBA and was signed by the Tulsa Shock and played there during the 2011 season.[9]

During the offseason, she played for Hapoel Rishon LeZion (Israel), ŽKK Novi Zagreb (Croatia),[10] BC Castors Braine (Belgium).[11] Olajuwon was waived by Tulsa Shock before the 2012 season.[12] After being waived she played for Esportivo Ourinhos (Brazil),[13] and Heilongjiang Chenneng (China).[14]

Olajuwon finished her career playing for Spanish club Caja Rural Zamarat.[15]

Coaching career

In May 2014, Olajuwon became an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at California State University, Fullerton.[16]

On May 20, 2016, Olajuwon was hired as an assistant coach for the women's Eastern Michigan Eagles.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c Michael Kinney, A name to remember: Abi Olajuwon Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, December 6, 2006
  2. ^ Tony Sellars, Olajuwon wants to make her own name Archived November 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, scout.com, February 9, 2006
  3. ^ Terps top preseason Top 25, espn.com, accessed January 30, 2007
  4. ^ http://www.emueagles.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1239 "Abi Olajuwon – Assistant Coach." Official Website of the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Accessed December 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Olajuwon waived by Sky". ESPN.com. July 2, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  7. ^ "SEAT Lami Ved Gyor adds Olajuwon to their roster". www.eurobasket.com. August 24, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Nenciu, Andru; Fabian, Ciprian (March 1, 2011). "Fiica unei legende a NBA a ajuns la Satu Mare! Numele ei: "Născută în bogăţie şi iubită de toţi" :)". ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  9. ^ Bailey, Eric (July 21, 2011). "Tulsa Shock release Marion Jones, sign former Sooner Abi Olajuwon". NewsOK.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "Novi Zagreb adds Abi Olajuwon". www.eurobasket.com. January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  11. ^ Detroz, Christian (February 21, 2012). "Abi Olajuwon rejoint les Castors de Braine". Basketfeminin.com (in French). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Moss, John (April 22, 2012). "Tulsa Shock Waive Former Sooner Abi Olajuwon". KTUL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  13. ^ Balassiano, Fábio (October 12, 2012). "Filha de lenda da NBA, Abi Olajuwon chega a Ourinhos para a Liga de Basquete Feminino". UOL Esporte (in European Portuguese). Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "Abi Olajuwon agreed terms with Heilongjiang". www.eurobasket.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  15. ^ "Abi Olajuwon joins Caja Rural". www.eurobasket.com. July 13, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  16. ^ "Olajuwon Added to Women's Basketball Coaching Staff". Cal State Fullerton Athletics. May 27, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  17. ^ "Abi Olajuwon Named EMU Women's Basketball Assistant Coach". EMUEagles.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.

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