It comes as no surprise to those who love college basketball that Stanford Cardinal senior Nnemkadi Ogwumike has been named one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy which rewards the women's college player of the year.
After all, her fancy footwork and unstoppable drive helped propel Stanford to a No. 2 national ranking and its 12th straight conference title.
It's certainly no surprise to younger sister Chiney, a sophomore at Stanford, who has followed in Nneka's footsteps and become an integral part of the team.
"I wouldn't want to go up against her," Chiney said. "She'd just throw me to the ground -- that's how strong she is."
Not that Chiney's any slouch herself: At the beginning of March, the sisters claimed two of the top Pac-12 awards. Nneka won player of the year and Chiney was selected defensive player of the year. As individuals, they are forces to be reckoned with. As teammates, they are virtually unstoppable.
"We don't even have to speak to each other a lot of times on the court," Chiney said. "We just look at each other and we know what we want to do."
All in the family
Their telepathy skills were honed back in Cypress, Texas, where they played on the Cy-Fair High School basketball team. They were also on the volleyball and track and field teams.
Nneka and Chiney, who stand 6-foot-2 and 6-3 respectively, look like they were built for a lifetime of athletic pursuits. But Nneka is quick to point out their parents put school before sports.
"Sports were really not emphasized in our family," she said.
Instead, their parents wanted their daughters -- first generation Nigerian-Americans -- to focus on making the right decisions about their education. That's no surprise given that their mother, Ify, is a middle school principal.
"The focus was on personal responsibility and getting good grades," Nneka said. "Basketball was more about giving us something to do with our energy."
Two years older than Chiney, Nneka got bitten by the basketball bug first. In fact, Chiney's initial reaction was less than enthusiastic.
"I went to my first tryout and I remember running off the court, and crying in the bathroom," Chiney said. "I was very intimidated by the game at first."
But after watching her big sister rule the court for a year, she gave it another try and never looked back.
Though their personalities are strikingly different, they jell on the court in a way only siblings can.
"Nneka is rock solid," Chiney said. "She is focused and together while I can be all over the place."
"Chiney is dynamite," Nneka concurred. "She has that spark."
The sisters know their greatest strength is as a unit, a philosophy they work to impart to the rest of their teammates.
"We work hard to make each other look good," Chiney said. "In this sport, it's not about what I can do on the court or what you can do, it's got to be about what we can do together."
Double trouble
Despite their raw talent, the Ogwumike sisters are remarkably normal college kids juggling finals, friendships and, yes, the odd media request.
Nneka counts piano playing among her hobbies and professes to harbor the cool party trick of performing backflips, something leftover from her gymnastics days.
Chiney lists "eating" among her very favorite activities (and, OK, she likes watching movies, too.)
Right now, they are far removed from the cozy world of dorm life and on the road with their team, trying to play their way into the Final Four with victories in the Fresno Regional. Stanford faces South Carolina on Saturday night.
The fearsome duo has earned the respect of fellow players and coaches across the country.
"The Ogwumikes are the real deal," Seattle coach Joan Bonvicini said after Stanford's 76-52 victory over her team in late February. "They're fun to watch. Not necessarily fun to play against, but they play the right way."
Stanford making the Sweet 16 is no surprise, the Cardinal have advanced to the Final Four the past four seasons. But what they really want is to take home the title for the first time in 20 years.
To do that, Nneka and Chiney know they will be called on to lead the charge, like they have this whole season. Can they take their dominating style all the way to the top?
"We always step up to the challenge," Nneka said. "We will be physical and keep the game fast, and then we'll see what happens."
