Michelle Onyiah has spent the last two years looking for an opportunity.
The 6-foot-3 center spent five seasons at Cal – a rare feat in this era of college basketball – and worked her way into the conversation of all-time Golden Bear greats with dominant post play.
As her collegiate career wrapped up with the 2024-25 campaign, the first glimpse of an opportunity presented itself – only to not come to fruition.
“New York [Liberty of the WNBA] wanted me for a while last year,” said Onyiah. “Then different things came up and happened and we couldn’t make it happen.”
So it was on to the next opportunity for Onyiah, which happened to be in Belgium.
“That experience was interesting,” said Onyiah of her time with the team Basket Namur Capitale. “I enjoyed Belgium. I learned French when I was there to be able to communicate with them in their native language. I enjoyed the community around where I was at, I met some really good friends there. The basketball is different, I will say. It was a learning experience.”
As she competed in her first pro season overseas, Onyiah’s sights remained set on a return to North America, and another opportunity came knocking – this time from a familiar name.
“This past year in Belgium I was trying to do really well to get the opportunity to play with New York,” she said. And then I was able to sign on April 14.”
The Liberty signed Onyiah to a training camp contract as they prepared for the impending 2026-27 season
“It was a fun experience with them,” said Onyiah of her time at Liberty training camp. “It was cool to see everything.”
That stop in the Big Apple wouldn’t last, though, but it didn’t derail Onyiah’s journey.
“I was waived, but everything happens for a reason, right?” she said. “There’s always going to be more opportunities.”
As it turns out, she was right. There was another opportunity for Onyiah, and it led her to the Queen City.
The 24-year-old jumped onto a Crown squad that was two games into their inaugural UPSHOT League season and looking for a presence down low.
“She brings physicality,” said Charlotte head coach Trisha Stafford-Odom when she added Onyiah to the roster. “She brings a major post presence. Rebounding machine. And she has the capability of being such an offensive threat around the post and the rim that she spaces the floor out for our shooters and our penetrators.”
For Onyiah, joining the pro game in North America was a huge breakthrough.
“Being back in the US playing is really fun,” she said. “I enjoy the American basketball style and playing with players that are really good. I remember playing against Reigan [Richardson] and DK [Deja Kelly] [in college] and being like, ‘Oh my God, they’re so good,’ and now they’re my teammates. I’m enjoying the new experience and the challenges that come with playing in the US, playing in big arenas and playing against good competition every night.”
Onyiah stepped right into the lineup for Charlotte and has been a force so far this season – leading the league in rebounds per game and picking up double-doubles in two of her five appearances.
“She’s amazing,” said Stafford-Odom. “Completely dominant around the rim, soft touch, soft hands.”
“You always need a coach who believes in you,” said Onyiah of Stafford-Odom, who played at Cal as well. “Even though I came really late, I believe in her and she believes in me and we want the best. It’s mutually beneficial if we both do well. So I’m grateful for that.”
When the UPSHOT League was announced, there was a heavy focus on the opportunity it could present for athletes. Onyiah is proving that forecast to be true.
“I came here knowing that if I was that close to making the W, this is my next opportunity,” she said. “Being able to play against high-level competition every night and knowing that teams in the W are watching these games. There are scouts – if you look closely enough, you see a lot of scouts at the games, people just don’t notice.”
Chasing opportunity has taken Onyiah across the world and back, and as she battles through the UPSHOT League season with her Crown teammates, she’s also ready for the next one that comes knocking.
“You’re not even a step away,” said Onyiah. “You’re on the cusp.”