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Ogwumike sisters to meet on court for first time

By WTOP Staff

DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer

Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike’s memories of the one time they played basketball against each other at Stanford don’t exactly match up.

They can agree on this: it was during practice when Chiney was a freshman and Nneka a junior.

“It was a little competitive,” recalled Nneka, laughing during a phone interview with The Associated Press earlier this week. “She claims she didn’t do anything, but she was fouling me. I told her she was going to regret it. After threats were made, coach took us out.”

Chiney remembers catching an elbow and running off the court.

No matter whose story was accurate, the end result was that the two sisters never played against each other over the next two years when they were both at school.

“I think coach figured out it wasn’t going to be beneficial for us to be on opposing sides,” Chiney said. “So we just never went against each other again.”

The two No. 1 picks in the WNBA draft will square off for the first time as pros when Nneka and the Los Angeles Sparks visit Chiney and the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The Ogwumike parents and about 30 family members are coming to the game.

“We made up shirts that say, ‘Sparks will fly and the Sun will shine,'” said Ify Ogwumike, the players’ mother. “It’s going to be a special weekend, a little different.”

Ify said she plans to sit right in the middle so as not to favor one of her daughters.

“Whether it’s assigned to me or not, I will sit in the center,” she said. “If I can’t, maybe I’ll switch sides, one side for one half and then switch for the other half.”

Ify recalled times when the sisters would play in the driveway of their house growing up. Nneka would take on her three younger sisters in a 3-on-1.

“Those were some spirited games,” Ify said. “Let’s just say I do remember my bedroom window getting broken.”

Peyton and Eli Manning have played each other in the NFL. Serena and Venus Williams have faced off in Grand Slams. But sibling showdowns are a rarity in the WNBA. There have only been a handful of sister matchups, according to the league.

Tulsa Shock center Courtney Paris never had to play against her twin sister Ashley in the WNBA or when they both were at Oklahoma in college. But the pair both played in Turkey for the same team this past winter and constantly would face each other in practice.

“You love your family but you’re so competitive,” Courtney Paris said. “You can push each other in ways that really no one else can. It’s a great thing because you challenge each other. Sometimes it can be a hard thing because you can take it too far. I definitely get where they’re coming from.”

This weekend is about more than just a game Sunday. The pair will host a basketball clinic Saturday in partnership with UNICEF.

“We’ve been waiting for a time to do it together in person,” Chiney said. “We’re super excited about the clinic and a chance to work with the kids.”

Chiney is also excited to show off her apartment to her big sister.

“I spent so much time at Nneka’s place over the summers when I was still in school and she was playing for L.A. I have a great weekend planned to show her all the sites in Connecticut,” Chiney said.

The two sisters talk almost every day and have both said that won’t change leading up to the game.

“We were talking about it on the phone and we’re going to have two different mindsets,” Nneka said. “There’s going to be some stress that I’m having to guard my sister. But she’s really good. It’s starting to register. I’m going to have to guard one of the best players in this league.”

Chiney said she won’t even need to look at the scouting report, knowing her sister so well. Although she did check out Nneka’s game against the New York Liberty on Friday night, sitting in the stands as a fan.

“Whether they are matched up or not in the game plan there is no doubt they’ll end up playing against each other at some point,” Los Angeles coach Carol Ross said. “It’s definitely something that I’ll enjoy watching as a fan. They are both very special women.”

The two sisters will meet again in Los Angeles on Aug. 3.

___

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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