Nyanin Appointed To Spearhead Golden State’s Inaugural WNBA Franchise
The WNBA’s newest franchise, Golden State’s expansion team, has made history by appointing Ohemaa Nyanin as its inaugural general manager. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for the organization as it gears up for its highly anticipated debut season in 2025.
Nyanin, a Ghanaian-American born in Maryland, will assume her role on May 13th, overseeing all basketball-related matters and reporting directly to Warriors co-executive chairman and CEO Joe Lacob.
Her extensive experience, including a five-year stint with the New York Liberty, where she served as assistant general manager, makes her a valuable asset for the team.
A Passionate Leader with a Wealth of Experience
During a May 6th news conference, Nyanin expressed her excitement about collaborating with talented minds to build a winning culture. “The investment that has already been committed to building an incredible WNBA franchise is nothing short of amazing,” she said. “I’m just really excited to collaborate with the current and future incredible minds to build a winning culture.”
Lacob, confident in Nyanin’s abilities, stated that he knew from their first interaction that she was the right fit for the position. He cited her basketball knowledge, experience, and gut-level understanding of the game as assets aligning with the team’s culture.
An Illustrious Career in Basketball Operations
Nyanin’s extensive background in basketball operations spans more than a decade. In addition to her time with the New York Liberty, she served as assistant director of the women’s USA Basketball team and as the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier Technical Delegate and Manager.
Her experience is expected to aid her transition to the Bay Area, as she takes on the challenge of building a championship-caliber team from scratch. The New York Liberty congratulated their former employee on her new role, showcasing the respect she has garnered within the WNBA community.
Building a Winning Team and Legacy
One of Nyanin’s pivotal tasks will be hiring a head coach. She expressed a desire to recruit the best basketball, artistic, and eclectic minds “to build the strongest team in the W.”
According to Lacob, the franchise has been interested in a WNBA team for several years, due in part to the rich history of women’s basketball in the Bay Area.
“We are thrilled this opportunity has finally come to fruition,” Lacob stated on Golden State’s website. “We have been interested in a WNBA franchise for several years, due in part to the rich history of women’s basketball in the Bay Area, and believe now is the ideal time to execute that vision and build upon the legacy.”
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