The 2021 WNBA Draft was one for the history books! Michaela Onyenwere became the first player from Colorado to be selected in the first round, going 6th overall to the New York Liberty. But the real highlight of the night? Her proud grandmother stole the show with a joyful dance after hearing her granddaughter\u2019s name called.<\/p>\n
Michaela made an instant impact in her debut season with the Liberty, winning Rookie of the Year in near-unanimous fashion. She also became just the fifth player ever to claim every Rookie of the Month honor that year. But behind all that success is a tight-knit family that\u2019s had her back every step of the way. So, let\u2019s take a moment to meet the people who\u2019ve been her biggest supporters!<\/p>\n
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Who Are Michaela Onyenwere\u2019s Parents?<\/p>\n
Michaela Onyenwere was born on August 10, 1999, in Aurora, Colorado, to Peter and Edith Onyenwere. Her parents hail from the Igbo villages in Nigeria. Her father, Peter, was a standout sprinter who moved to the U.S. in 1985 to compete in track at the University of Missouri, while her mother, Edith, immigrated to America with her family in the 1970s.<\/p>\n
It goes without saying that Michaela\u2019s father has been a guiding force throughout her journey. When she was getting ready to represent her country for the first time as part of Team USA\u2019s inaugural 3\u00d73 Olympic basketball team, Peter gifted her his first gold medal. \u201cI\u2019m passing the mantle to her,\u201d he said as covered by the LA Times, handing over the medal he won at the 1979 Imo State Sports Festival in Owerri, Nigeria.<\/p>\n
What Ethnicity Are Michaela Onyenwere\u2019s Parents?<\/p>\n