WNBA Golden State Names Ohemaa Nyanin as General Manager

WNBA Golden State has named Ohemaa Nyanin as the team’s general manager, it was announced today. In her role, Nyanin will oversee all basketball operations, inclusive of roster construction, team building and player development. Nyanin will report to Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO, Joe Lacob, and will begin her tenure with the team on May 13, 2024.

“Ohemaa is the perfect fit to lead our WNBA basketball operations as we prepare for our inaugural season in 2025,” said Lacob. “As we moved through the GM hiring process, it became more apparent each day how impressive and well-versed Ohemaa is in all facets of the business, and as a person.  She brings an incredible knowledge of the WNBA and international women’s basketball landscape from her time with the Liberty and USA Basketball. Additionally, she has a deep passion and desire to build a strong culture and, ultimately, win basketball games. We are thrilled to welcome her to Golden State.” 

Nyanin joins WNBA Golden State from the New York Liberty where she spent over five years in a variety of capacities, most recently as the team’s assistant general manager. As assistant general manager, Nyanin served as the primary liaison between the basketball and business operations teams, assisting with free agency, trade, salary cap management, and extension of the roster. Her previous roles with the Liberty include director of basketball operations (2020-22) and manager of basketball operations (2019-20). During her five seasons with the Liberty, the team notched three WNBA Playoffs appearances, including a trip to the 2023 WNBA Finals as the second-overall seed.

“I am truly honored to be chosen as the first general manager of WNBA Golden State,” said Nyanin. “Throughout the interview process, it was clear that bringing a WNBA team to the Bay Area was meticulously thought out and those involved are motivated changemakers who will be proactive in growing the league. I look forward to joining this franchise and building a competitive basketball team that the fans deserve.”

Since 2016, Nyanin has served as FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier Technical Delegate and Manager. Throughout her tenure, she’s held numerous roles, including the event lead of the 2024 Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Brazil, Co-Technical Commissioner of the 2022 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and the Official FIBA Representative at FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifier Games around the world.

Prior to her time with the Liberty, Nyanin spent five years as USA Basketball’s assistant director of the women’s national team where she led youth national teams to international competitions, managing delegation logistics and serving as a translator in Spanish-speaking countries. Nyanin played an integral role in the USA Basketball Women’s National Team winning a gold medal at both the 2016 Olympics, held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and the 2018 World Cup, held in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

Born in Maryland to parents from Ghana, Ghanaian American Nyanin grew up spending time in five different countries: Philippines, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Chile and the United States. She graduated from American University with a Masters of Science in justice and public policy in 2011, after earning her Bachelor of Arts in international relations and foreign language and communications in 2009. She competed for American University’s women’s basketball team during her time on campus.

WNBA Golden State will be headquartered in Oakland and play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Warriors’ Oakland Facility, which served as the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility and front office from 1997-2019, will be the WNBA team’s headquarters, housing a world-class practice facility and the team’s front office staff. The team’s brand identity will be announced at a later date.

Fans who wish to become a season ticket member can do so by placing a deposit at wnba.com/goldenstate.