Born in London, raised in Texas and of Nigerian descent, Orlando Pride forward Chioma Ubogagu grew up with the option of playing for three different national teams. But the red, white and blue of America has always felt a little bit more comfortable on her shoulders.
For the first time in over two years, Ubogagu will pull the crest over her heart again, having received her first call-up to the senior U.S. Women’s National Team on Tuesday afternoon. Ubogagu was named to Jill Ellis’ 23-player November camp roster that will play matches against Canada on Nov. 9 in Vancouver (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and Nov. 12 in San Jose (9 p.m. ET, FS1).
“I love playing this game and am so grateful to do what I love everyday. There’s definitely something special about representing your country. I was born in England, I’m of Nigerian heritage but I was raised in this country. There’s special connection I share with America,” Ubogagu said of the opportunity. “When that national anthem plays or you put on that kit, it’s a really special and surreal feeling to know that you’re doing what you love and representing, in my opinion, the best country in the world. “
Ubogagu, 25, first got her opportunity with the U.S. WNT at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels, guiding the nation to the U-20 Women’s World Cup and CONCACAF championships in 2012, scoring the game-winner in the latter.
“At the U-20 level, those girls I got to play with were all so talented and I was able to learn from [head coach] Steve Swanson. We were fortunate enough to qualify for the U-20 World Cup and went on this pretty incredible run,” Ubogagu added. “I think that’s when it really hit me that that was what I wanted to strive for, to get to the senior-team level.”
Also an NCAA Champion and four-time All-Pac 12 honoree, Ubogagu was a highly touted prospect in the 2015 NWSL Draft but, despite being selected by Sky Blue FC, chose to play her first professional season with Arsenal Women - the club she grew up supporting. Following one season with the Gunners, the Houston Dash acquired her rights in a trade and the Dallas native returned to her home state for the 2016 NWSL season.
But the season didn’t go as expected, with the talented striker only putting one goal on the board in her 15 appearances.
“I think everyone needs to find an environment that works for them. Even though I’m from Texas and in my head it seemed like it was going to be a good fit, it just wasn’t the environment where I could help the team the most,” Ubogagu said. “It had nothing to do with the organization, sometimes things just don’t gel.”
With the turn of the New Year, the clean slate of 2017 signified a reset for Ubogagu as well. On January 23, the Pride brought the forward to the Sunshine State, sending a 2018 draft pick to the Dash in return. For Pride head coach Tom Sermanni, it was a chance worth taking on a player who he knew had the ability but hadn’t yet found her groove.
Ubogagu went on to score four goals and added three assists in her first year with the Pride.
“I watched Chi at Stanford and in the 23s. I felt she had all the ingredients to be a successful player at the elite level but hadn't quite put together the end product.” Sermanni said of the acquisition. “I think it’s safe to say, with the goals and assists she produced this year, she exceeded our expectations. She has taken her game to a new level.”
That new level? The one Ubogagu has been working her life to reach: the U.S. WNT.
