Monica Okoye (オコエ 桃仁花, Okoe Monika, born 7 February 1999) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Canberra Capitals of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She also plays for the Japanese national team.

Monica Okoye
Okoye with the Fujitsu Red Wave in 2019
No. 99 – Canberra Capitals
PositionForward
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (1999-02-07) 7 February 1999 (age 25)
Tokyo, Japan
Listed height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Career information
High schoolMyojo Gakuen (Tokyo, Japan)
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2019Denso Iris
2019–2022Fujitsu Red Wave
2022–2023AO Eleutheria Moschato
2023Geelong United Supercats
2023–presentCanberra Capitals
Medals
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2021 Jordan
Silver medal – second place 2023 Australia
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou team

Early life

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Okoye was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan.[1] She attended Myojo Gakuen High School.[2]

Professional career

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Okoye debuted in the Women's Japan Basketball League in the 2017–18 season with Denso Iris. She played two seasons for Denso before joining Fujitsu Red Wave in 2019, where she played three seasons.[3]

For the 2022–23 season, Okoye joined AO Eleutheria Moschato of the Greek Women's Basketball League.[3]

Okoye moved to Australia to play for the Geelong United Supercats of the NBL1 South in the 2023 season.[4]

On 3 July 2023, Okoye signed with the Canberra Capitals of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the 2023–24 season.[5]

National team

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Okoye played for the Japanese national team at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.[6] She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal.[7][8]

Personal life

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Monica's mother is Japanese and her father is Nigerian of Igbo descent.[9][10] Her older brother, Louis, plays professional baseball for the Yomiuri Giants.[11]

References

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  1. ^ David, Dione (5 December 2023). "'I will fight for this team' – first WNBL Japanese national vows to bring her A game to the UC Caps". the-riotact.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Monica Okoye". fiba.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Monica Okoye". asia-basket.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Monica a capital gain for Canberra". geelongunitedbasketball.com.au. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  5. ^ "UC CAPITALS SCORE JAPANESE NATIONAL PLAYER MONICA OKOYE". wnbl.basketball/uc-capitals. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Monica Okoye (Jpn)'s profile - FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  7. ^ "Monica OKOYE at the Tokyo 2020 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament 2020". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  8. ^ "Basketball OKOYE Monica". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  9. ^ "Heisei Transformations: New definitions of what it means to be 'Japanese'". mainichi.jp. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Monica Okoye". Adidas. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  11. ^ "オコエ桃仁花、A代表入りへ「チャンスつかみたい」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 30 May 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
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