Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike has the special task of utilizing the power of the civically-engaged athlete in the upcoming election.
Back in August, Ogwumike was chosen by LeBron James to lead his More Than A Vote initiative, putting her in charge of mobilizing athletes to encourage people to vote, promoting political education and signing up poll workers.
More Than A Vote was established in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice protests that followed the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Arbery. Ogwumike and her sister Chiney were involved in 2020; to now be in charge in 2024 provides a great deal of meaning for Ogwumike. She told Swish Appeal:
I am honored in all respects. I felt very honored and blessed to be passed the torch. This organization has been so impactful for the athletes to be leaders and civically engaged. I felt honored LeBron chose me to keep it going.
Ogwumike is gearing the initiative to focus on reproductive freedom, which is a critical issue in the forthcoming election. This November, 10 states will have reproductive rights measures on the ballot. Since the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, reproductive rights activists have centered the issue, while women…
