Olayinka Sanni

Olayinka Ajike Sanni (born August 21, 1986) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player.^[1] Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois,^[2] she most recently played the center / power forward position for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and also for Charleville-Méz in France – LFB. ^[3]

Olayinka Sanni

Personal information
Born	(1986-08-21) August 21, 1986 (age 38) Chicago Heights, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American / Nigerian
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Illinois)
College	West Virginia (2004–2008)
WNBA draft	2008: 2nd round, 18th overall pick
Drafted by	Detroit Shock
Playing career	2008–present
Position	Center
Career history
2008–2009	Detroit Shock
2011	Phoenix Mercury
Career highlights
WNBA Champion (2008) 2x First-team All-Big East (2007, 2008)
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Women's basketball Representing  Nigeria African Games (All-Africa Games) 2015 Brazzaville Team 2007 Algiers Team 2011 Maputo Team

College career

In her senior year at West Virginia, Sanni averaged career highs in points per game (16.2) and rebounds per game (7.1).^[4]

WNBA career

Sanni was drafted 18th overall in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Detroit Shock. Out of the 31 games she played in her rookie season, she started 9. She shot exactly 50% from the floor (41–82) while averaging just a little over 10 minutes per game.

She is playing for Calais in France during the 2008–09 WNBA off-season.^[5]

She is currently playing for ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq in France during the 2009–10 WNBA off-season.

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

College

Source^[6]

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Year	Team	GP	Points	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2004–05	West Virginia	33	236	46.8	–	51.8	4.9	0.4	0.9	0.6	7.2
2005–06	West Virginia	31	384	58.3	–	50.8	5.3	0.5	1.2	0.6	12.4
2006–07	West Virginia	32	449	55.3	–	65.0	6.7	0.5	1.7	0.9	14.0
2007–08	West Virginia	33	533	58.8	–	58.5	7.1	1.0	1.5	0.4	16.2
Career	West Virginia	129	1602	55.7	–	57.4	6.0	0.6	1.3	0.6	12.4

WNBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2008	Detroit	31	9	10.5	.500	.000	.649	2.1	0.2	0.4	0.2	1.3	3.4
2009	Detroit	31	1	9.6	.480	.000	.694	1.8	0.5	0.4	0.2	1.0	3.8
2011	Phoenix	14	0	5.2	.667	.000	.333	0.7	0.0	0.2	0.1	0.9	1.6
Career		76	10	9.2	.503	.000	.646	1.7	0.3	0.3	0.2	1.1	3.3

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2008	Detroit	9	0	7.3	.438	–	.500	1.8	0.3	0.3	0.0	0.4	1.8
2009	Detroit	3	0	4.3	.625	–	–	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	3.3
Career		12	0	6.6	.500	–	.500	1.6	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	2.3

Philanthropy

Olayinka Sanni oversees the Olayinka Sanni Foundation, a not-for-profit that caters to the development of boys and girls through leadership and basketball camps. In 2017, she hosted a basketball camp for teenage boys and girls in Lagos, Nigeria.^[7]