We can’t wait to see this one!
Two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogumike is developing a new comedy series, “The W,” about the WNBA, Deadline reports. The series is the first scripted television series about the WNBA and is loosely inspired by Ogumike’s own journey. She was drafted by the Connecticut Sun as a first round pick in the 2014 draft, and and later traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2019. She and her longtime business partner and agent Allison Galer, took a nontraditional route for the WNBA athlet’s success, signing a contract with ESPN in 2018 and making history in 2020 as the first Black woman to host a national radio show for the sports network.
Today, Ogumike works as an in-studio analyst for NBA Today and has now launched her production company Victorious. “The W,” marks the first project under her Victorious productions banner, Ogwumike and Galer previously executive producting the ESPN films documentary 144 about the 2020 WNBA season in the COVID bubble.
“Out mission with Victorious is to build a future where women in sports can win big. One of the most invaluable lessons that I have learned as a professional athlete, broadcaster, and ambassador is that we no longer have to wait for opportunities, we can create them. We are in an era where barriers are being broke, ceilings are being shattered and the world is finally taking notice. And with our groundbreaking first project, we will bring the main topic to the mainstream. In that spirit, Victorious is a purpose-driven platform that will forge new pathways for us to celebrate our own wins,” said Ogumike.
“The W,” is centered around an in-demand rookie WNBA player and her novice agent as they navigate the chaotic world of women’s professional basketball. Ogumike will work alongside women’s wrestling comedy drama, GLOW, creators Carly Mensch and Liz Flahive, who will act as showrunners with Tori Collins, of Jamie Foxx’s Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!,” co-writing the pilot.
“With Victorious and our first-of-its-kind scripted project, we are creating meaningful opportunities that show women in sports winning at the highest levels. As an advocate and teammate of female athletes for over a decade, I know firsthand the power of women’s sports and its exceptional ability to capture hearts and minds. With media coverage accelerating, superstar status shining, and investment expanding, Victorious will be the go-to vehicle for women’s sports stories to reach and captivate global audiences,” said Galer.
Victorious will produce alongside Universal Television and Condé Nast’s Glamour Studios. No word yet when “The W,” will air but it is currently in the works at Peacock.
Cover photo: WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike Developing First Scripted TV Series About the League/Photo credit: Disrupt The Game/Forbes