It was trial by fire. Ogwumike co-hosted a few shows that covered a wide range of sports, giving her a taste of live TV. She was hooked.

"It's weird ... people on TV will tell you that being on TV is almost like being in a game as a player," she said.

"Being in broadcasting is very similar to being a pro athlete. You're competing, you want to do well. I'm a competitor. It takes that same mindset to broadcast."

She spent time rehabbing her body and working games at both the Pac-12 Network and ESPN.

Ogwumike was healthy for the 2016 season, playing in the WNBA and working for ESPN on a part-time basis.

Another offseason injury to her Achilles while playing in China shut the door on her WNBA season in 2017, but allowed her to work more at ESPN. She became host of SportsCenter Africa and was used as an analyst on shows discussing the NBA, WNBA and college basketball.

She has spent the past four months getting up at 4:30 am and working all morning at ESPN before continuing her rehab to get back on the court.

"Now I know that I don't have to play 24-7 if I don't want to," Ogwumike said. "I think a lot of times, we are prisoners of the paycheck in the WNBA. People go to countries in turmoil. They go to faraway places to play, pushing their bodies to the limit. I am fully blessed to play in the WNBA."

Associated Press