Years before becoming general manager of the Golden State Valkyries, Ohemaa Nyanin (SIS-SOC/BA ’09, SPA/MS ’11) was a student trying to make her dreams come true.
She embraced what it means to be a student at American University. From being a walk-on athlete, engaging in tough conversations in the classroom and making meaningful connections that would go on to help shape her future, Nyanin ultimately developed the philosophy and leadership that she still retains while leading the newest expansion team in the WNBA.
On Feb. 5, Nyanin returned to campus for a conversation with School of Communication professor Jane Hall. Students filled the room, leaving little room to spare as they discussed changing the world through women’s sports. The conversation traced Nyanin’s journey from student-athlete to professional sports executive, repeatedly returning to the values she shaped during her time at American University.
“For me, civic engagement is working with people from different backgrounds, being in rooms where people understand my story, or have no idea why I’m sitting there at all,” Nyanin said. “It’s about being unapologetic about who I am and what I stand for.”
Long before she became the first general manager in Valkyries history, Nyanin was a 6’2” forward from Accra, Ghana, carving out a role at American University and beyond. With the support of then-women’s basketball head coach Matthew Corkery, she found her way to graduate school and back onto the court after a year away from basketball. During her senior season in 2009–10, she appeared in all 32 games, started 31, and led the team in rebounding at 6.3 rebounds per game — fifth-best in the Patriot League that year.
When she returned, Nyanin earned a co-captain role and helped lead the Eagles to the Patriot League finals. She also earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, building a reputation for having a team-first mindset.
“I never give up on anything I put my name on,” Nyanin said, which was ultimately a principle she described as taking root during her time at the University.
Those traits, she said, laid the foundation for how she now leads.
Named general manager of the Valkyries on May 6, 2024, Nyanin oversees all basketball operations for Golden State. Her work has encompassed roster construction for the team’s inaugural and future seasons. The Valkyries set multiple league records during their first season, most notably becoming the first expansion team in the WNBA to reach the playoffs in their debut year, boasting a 23-21 record.
Before arriving in the Bay Area, Nyanin spent five years with the New York Liberty in a range of roles, most recently as assistant general manager. There, she was a bridge between basketball and business operations as the Liberty made three WNBA playoff appearances and a run to the 2023 Finals.
During her conversation at American University, Nyanin placed a heavy emphasis on responsibility not just in the sports world, but in a global context as well.
She said civic engagement is not just rooted in politics on Capitol Hill, but in the dialogue that can create meaningful conversations. Nyanin mainly attributed this mindset to her time at American University, where she saw the value of safe spaces anywhere: on the quad, in the classrooms or in the locker room.
That belief directly shapes how she approaches leadership with the Valkyries.
“Our athletes are going to be from the Bay Area, from other states, from other countries,” Nyanin said. “They’re going to have their own thoughts and desires. I will never stifle their platform. In fact, I’ll embrace whatever they want to bring to the table — and, oh, by the way, we will win.”
While Nyanin acknowledged that winning is good, empowerment is a big part of building a strong team culture, so she believes the two are intertwined.
She credits American University with instilling the mindset that conversations can be tough and that it can take time to find the answers to problems. This ultimately helped her in the world of professional sports years later. She recalled classroom debates so intense that professors occasionally had to pause discussions, along with community-based learning experiences that challenged students to practice what was preached.
“AU is a place where you don’t just talk about values — you practice them,” Nyanin said. “All of those experiences, both as a student and a student-athlete, became part of my fabric.”
Those ideals and values were the framework that carried her all throughout her career. Whether at American University, USA Basketball, the Liberty or Golden State, Nyanin always rose to the occasion. When meeting with Warriors owner Joe Lacob early on, he urged Nyanin to map their own legacy to set a precedent for future players, front office members, and fans.
That vision has already taken hold. The Valkyries became the first women’s sports team in history to pass 15,000 ticket deposits. Under Nyanin’s leadership, the Valkyries are projected to become one of the WNBA’s revenue leaders as the organization heads toward its second season.
“Without this experience at AU, I genuinely believe my course of history would have been different,” Nyanin said. “I’m indebted to AU for both the positive and the challenging moments — and grateful that they’re still willing to tell my story.”
As the Valkyries prepare to take the court for the second year, Nyanin continues to hold her head high while operating with the same principles she developed years ago: show up, listen, make space and lead with purpose.
This article was edited by Matthias Jaylen Sandoval, Jack Stashower and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Arin Burrell, Paige Caron and Nicole Kariuki.
