Nigerian-American basketball player and coach (born 1988)
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
Professional
Olajuwon was drafted 28th overall (third round) by the Chicago Sky in the 2010 WNBA draft . However, she was waived during the season .[ 5] After being waived, Olajuwon signed with Hungarian SEAT-Lami-Véd Győr ,[ 6] and later played for CSM Satu Mare (Romania).[ 7]
In 2011, Olajuwon returned to the WNBA and was signed by the Tulsa Shock and played there during the 2011 season .[ 8]
During the offseason, she played for Hapoel Rishon LeZion (Israel), ŽKK Novi Zagreb (Croatia),[ 9] BC Castors Braine (Belgium).[ 10] Olajuwon was waived by Tulsa Shock before the 2012 season .[ 11] After being waived she played for Esportivo Ourinhos (Brazil),[ 12] and Heilongjiang Chenneng (China).[ 13]
Olajuwon finished her career playing for Spanish club Caja Rural Zamarat .[ 14]
Coaching career
In May 2014, Olajuwon became an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at California State University, Fullerton .[ 15]
On May 20, 2016, Olajuwon was hired as an assistant coach for the women's Eastern Michigan Eagles .[ 16]
In May 2018, Olajuwon was added the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs women's basketball coaching staff.[ 17]
On December 27, 2022, it was announced Olajuwon had been added to the WNBA's Connecticut Sun as an assistant coach.[ 18]
Career statistics
College
Source[ 19]
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
WNBA
Source[ 20]
Regular season
Year
Team
2010
Chicago
6
0
5.0
.500
–
–
.7
.0
.2
.0
.3
1.0
2011
Tulsa
16
0
6.2
.269
–
1.000
.8
.1
.0
.1
.3
1.0
Career
2 years, 2 teams
22
0
5.9
.313
–
1.000
.7
.1
.0
.1
.3
1.0
References
^ a b c Michael Kinney, A name to remember: Abi Olajuwon Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , December 6, 2006
^ Tony Sellars, Olajuwon wants to make her own name Archived November 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , scout.com, February 9, 2006
^ Lieberman, Nancy (October 11, 2006). "Terps top Lieberman's preseason Top 25" . ESPN.com . Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "Abi Olajuwon - Women's Basketball Coach" . Eastern Michigan University Athletics . Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "Olajuwon waived by Sky" . ESPN.com . July 2, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "SEAT Lami Ved Gyor adds Olajuwon to their roster" . eurobasket.com . August 24, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ 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 .
^ Bailey, Eric (July 21, 2011). "Tulsa Shock release Marion Jones, sign former Sooner Abi Olajuwon" . NewsOK.com . Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ "Novi Zagreb adds Abi Olajuwon" . eurobasket.com . January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .[dead link ]
^ Detroz, Christian (February 21, 2012). "Abi Olajuwon rejoint les Castors de Braine" . Basketfeminin.com (in French). Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ Moss, John (April 22, 2012). "Tulsa Shock Waive Former Sooner Abi Olajuwon" . KTUL.com . Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ 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 .
^ "Abi Olajuwon agreed terms with Heilongjiang" . eurobasket.com . December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .[dead link ]
^ "Abi Olajuwon joins Caja Rural" . eurobasket.com . July 13, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ "Abi Olajuwon Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator profile" . Cal State Fullerton Athletics . May 27, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "Abi Olajuwon Named EMU Women's Basketball Assistant Coach" . EMUEagles.com . May 20, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "TCU Adds Abi Olajuwon to Staff" . gofrogs.com . May 4, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Welcomes Abi Olajuwon as Assistant Coach - Connecticut Sun" . sun.wnba.com . December 27, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2024 .
^ "NCAA Statistics" . web1.ncaa.org . Retrieved August 28, 2017 .
^ "Abi Olajuwon WNBA Stats" . Basketball Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2024 .
External links