Yuko Ogami, head coach of Toyota Motor Corporation Antelopes, becomes the third Japanese to be inducted into the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame-Basket Count |

“I am who I am today thanks to the teams I fought with and my colleagues on the national team.”

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced that Yuko Ogami, former Japan women’s national team and current head coach of the W Toyota Antelopes, will be inducted into the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame.

Okami won the W-League championship nine times with the Japan Energy JOMO Sunflowers (now ENEOS Sunflowers), winning numerous titles during his three years at Nagoya Junior College (now Ohka Gakuen). I’ve been In 2008, he became the second Japanese player in the WNBA, and is a legend who also challenged the Chinese league. After retiring at the end of the 2017-18 season, he embarked on a career as a coach, becoming the head coach of Toyota Motor Corporation this season and leading the club to a runner-up finish.

Okami made the following comments in the release: “I was contacted by FIBA ​​to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Since I started playing basketball, I have been coached by many coaches, and thanks to the understanding and cooperation of my team, I was sent to the national team. I would like to once again thank everyone who has been involved, my family who have always supported me, and everyone. I would like to continue to work hard so that I can stand in the future.Thank you for your continued guidance.And I would like to ask for your support for the Japanese basketball world.Encourage Japan with basketball!Thank you. I’m sorry.”

A total of 12 people, 2 coaches and 10 players, have been inducted into the Hall of Fame announced by FIBA ​​this time. The men’s list includes Chinese legend Yao Ming, Brazil’s symbol Uramir Marquez, and women’s MVP Penny Taylor, who led Australia to its first world championship in 2006. Mr. Ogami’s entry into the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame is the third Japanese player to be inducted into the FIBA ​​Hall of Fame following Kenichi Sako, who was announced in March 2021.

The award ceremony will be held in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, August 23, just before the opening of the World Cup 2023.

Past Japanese FIBA ​​Hall of Fame Inductees
1. 2007 Mr. Yoshimi Ueda (contributor frame / first Japanese)
*At the time, he was a permanent adviser to the Japan Basketball Association. Former international manager.
*Former FIBA ​​member (1959-1989). He was involved in the establishment of the Asian Basketball Federation (currently FIBA ​​Asia).

2. 2021 Mr. Kenichi Sako (Player quota / As a winner in 2000)
* Former Japanese men’s national team player, former Japanese men’s national team coach, etc.
* 1995 Participated in the 1995 Universiade Fukuoka tournament as a representative of Japan and won the second place. In 1997, he finished second in the Asian Championships (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, currently known as the Asian Cup) and qualified for the FIBA ​​World Championships (currently known as the FIBA ​​World Cup) for the first time in 31 years as a Japanese men’s national team. He played an active role as a Japanese commander for a long time, including participating in the championship (14th place).