Chiney Ogwumike's Love Life: Who's the Man by Her Side? Get to Know Her Husband!

Chiney Ogwumike is a professional basketball for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2020, she achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first Black woman and the first player from the WNBA to host a national radio show on ESPN. 

In this article, learn in detail about Ogwumike's personal life. 

Chiney Ogwumike Met Her Husband in a Dating App

Chiney Ogwumike and her spouse Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori met on a dating app called Hinge and instantly connected because of their Nigerian background. They talked online for six months before Ogwumike took the initiative and invited Raphael to a Burna Boy concert in Los Angeles. 

Akpejiori proposed to Ogwumike on Christmas Eve after mass in a beautifully decorated room at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston. They kept their relationship private until their wedding. Chiney believes in keeping personal matters private until they are solid, and they cherish the intimacy their secrecy brings.

They decided to share their love story after their wedding, celebrating their culture and the things they cherish. However, they might continue to keep their personal life private in the future.  

Chiney Ogwumike is Married to Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori

Chiney Ogwumike and Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori got married from November 15 to November 19, 2023, in Houston, Texas. "It wasn't just a typical weekend for the wedding," Ogwumike said. "It was more like a big celebration that didn't have a strict schedule." 

The couple lives in California, where Ogwumike plays basketball for the Los Angeles Sparks, and Miami, where Akpejiori stays. But they chose Houston as their wedding venue because it reminded them of home due to its large Nigerian community.

Around 1,000 guests attended the different events over the five days of Chiney's wedding. It was a beautiful celebration filled with culture, tradition, stylish outfits, and love.

The "Start-of-Celebration Party" 

Chiney Ogwumike and Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori's wedding celebrations began with a welcome party on Wednesday, November 15. It was a time for their families to meet and chat before the main ceremonies. 

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After that, there was another fun event for their loved ones, organized by Nkem Igwebuike and 3Gems, named after their mutual love for basketball. "We called it the 'tip-off event'," Ogwumike shared with a laugh. "That's when the real celebration started." 

The Traditional African Wedding Ceremony With a Royal Theme

The day after the welcome party, on November 16, was Chiney Ogwumike and Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori's traditional Nigerian wedding. It was a way for them to honor their different Nigerian backgrounds - Akpejiori is Edo, while Ogwumike is Igbo. 

They saw this ceremony as a beautiful and colorful unity display, showcasing their Nigerian identities. The event happened at the Igbo Catholic Community Center and had around 1,000 guests, a usual number for Nigerian weddings. Ogwumike explains that in Nigeria, these weddings are open to the whole village, so there isn't a set guest count.  

Even though the wedding wasn't in Nigeria, Houston's strong Nigerian community made it feel similar to a traditional Nigerian ceremony. The venue was symbolic, representing Ogwumike's father's ancestral house, and was somewhat open to the public, following tradition.  

Their theme for this ceremony was "Royally African," a nod to Akpejiori's Edo heritage from the Kingdom of Benin. They chose a color scheme of rich gold, ivory, and greenery to reflect Nigeria's flag colors.  

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The lovebirds and their guests wore vibrant African attire, bringing color to the celebration. The food was a mix of authentic Nigerian dishes like jollof rice and egusi soup, alongside American favorites like Texas barbeque and ice cream, representing their merged cultures. Ogwumike wanted the food to tell their story of blending traditions. 

The Unexpected Burna Boy Concert 

Following the Nigerian ceremony, Friday was meant to be a day off for the newlyweds and their loved ones. However, Chiney Ogwumike heard about a Burna Boy concert happening at the Toyota Center in Houston.  

Chiney and her husband's first date was at a Burna Boy concert, and they went to another show on their first anniversary. While planning their wedding, they realized there was a concert scheduled on their only free day that week.  

With some help from her friends in the Houston Rockets NBA team, who play at the Toyota Center, Ogwumike arranged a surprise for their guests. 

The Wedding at The Church

The excitement continued. On Saturday, November 18, Chiney Ogwumike and Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori had their church wedding, following Western traditions. They had around 650 guests at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, and it was as extravagant as their first ceremony.

The bride wanted her guests to wear silver and gold to match the glamorous theme. Even though their wedding weekend focused on traditions, this ceremony was personal.

The Goodbye Brunch 

To wrap up their amazing wedding weekend, Chiney Ogwumike and Ethasor Raphael Akpejiori organized a goodbye brunch to bid farewell to their guests and reminisce about their favorite moments.

One special memory for Ogwumike was the first time she saw her husband at the welcome party. In that brief moment, they both realized, "Wow, this is happening." To fully enjoy the experience, the couple decided to disconnect from their phones throughout the entire week-long celebration. 

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