“We’re going to go as far as Queen, honestly, takes us,” Formerly under Kim Mulkey’s explosive locker room, Queen Egbo had an impeccable college run with the Baylor Bears women’s team. She had the ability to change the winds of the game in her favour and single-handedly lead the team to a victory. The 10th overall pick in the WNBA draft, Egbo was inducted by the Indiana Fever in 2022, where she averaged 2.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16 games.
While fans only saw her flashes in her rookie season, those brilliant flashes were enough to grab eyeballs in the W. The Mystics GM, Mike Thibault, also praised the first round pick for her rebounding prowess, indicating the rising star to eventually become an asset for the team. “Queen is an elite rebounder, one of our biggest weaknesses, and she has been a good shot blocker and defender in her time at Indiana.” And no sooner, Washington Mystics traded Egbo in their team next year.
And since then, the proficient player has had a taste of the league with signing contracts with Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks, and Las Vegas Aces. While we are aware of her thundering on-court performances, let us understand the early life of Queen Egbo, starting from her nationality, family life, ethnicity, and more.
Where is Queen Egbo from, and what is her nationality?
Born on June 29, 2000, in the bustling city of Houston, Texas, 24-year-old Queen Egbo is an American National. She attended the Travis High School in Richmond, Texas, that became instrumental in igniting an inclination in young Egbo towards basketball. Her alma mater ultimately became a playground for trial and error and averaged 14.2 points, and 13 rebounds per game along with two triple-doubles and 19 double-doubles during her freshman season. And the efficient centre has not looked back since.
Moreover, Egbo averaged 17.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.0 blocks and 3.9 steals per game during her senior year before being crowned McDonald’s All-American in 2018. And Egbo carried a sense of basketball IQ and efficiency even before heading towards a college career. And she knew that her heart belonged to Baylor Bears right from the start. She chose the program for its reputation of developing All-American post players including Danielle Crockrom, Sophia Young, Brittney Griner, and Nina Davis.
Mar 14, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Kysre Gondrezick (2) shoots the ball after driving past Baylor Lady Bears center Queen Egbo (25) in the second half at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports
During her stint in the Baylor Bears under HC Kim Mulkey, Egbo enhanced her defensive abilities and rebounding prowess. Mulkey and the entire team relied on the six-feet-four athlete’s physicality and ability to block shots and guard the rim. Moreover, Egbo carries an aggressive outlook on the hardwood that aids her in receiving more possessions and creating second-hand opportunities. No wonder Mulkey has always praised Egbo’s performances! The Big 12 Sixth Person of the Year averaged 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds during her sophomore year in the roster and propelled the team into Sweet 16 of the 2021 March Madness.
What is Queen Egbo’s ethnicity?
“My dad was actually in the (U.S.) Navy, so he moved here and brought my mom with him,” Queen said. While Queen Egbo is an American national by birth, her ethnic roots go all the way back to Nigeria. Born to Nigerian parents, Amaechi and Amazilo Egbo, Queen recounts in one of the interviews how her parents came to the United States to start a life in the country.
“Their opportunities and them coming here have really helped my opportunities and given me a better life. Ultimately, that’s why they came to America, because they wanted an opportunity and they wanted a better life.” She said that her parents’ decision to move to America has been beneficial to Egbo, providing her with a better life and opportunities to explore various career options.
However, her father’s strict Nigerian roots has always reflected in the way he has disciplined Queen and laid more focus on the academics instead. So, naturally her father was a little skeptical of her basketball career when Queen disclosed her passion for the sport. But he eventually came to terms with her choice of career and continues to extend support to his daughter, instructing her with a list of dos and don’ts before every game.
Is Queen Egbo Christian?
Yes, Queen Egbo grew up in a Christian family and is a devout Christian. In fact, her middle name, Kamsiyochukwu, translates to ‘as I asked of God’, and reflects her family’s Christian heritage. And while her Instagram bio also suggests that she believes in a higher power, there are no publicly verifiable reports regarding specific religious dominion or affiliation towards a certain faith and church under the umbrella of Christianity.
As someone who has successfully represented the United States on the international stage and clinched a gold medal during her stint in the 2019 FIBA-Under 19 women’s basketball World Cup, Egbo is one of the most efficient players in the WNBA. Currently playing for the Chinese basketball club, Shaanxi Red Wolves, she has been a domineering force in the global basketball spheres. And while she competes away from home, it will be interesting to note Egbo’s career trajectory within a few years from now.
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