Ezi Magbegor Bio: Net Worth, Salary and Professional Career

Ezi Magbegor didn't expect to win a championship in her first WNBA season, but that's exactly what happened when she joined the Seattle Storm in 2020. The 25-year-old from Wellington, New Zealand, who grew up shooting hoops in Melbourne, found herself holding up a trophy just months after being drafted 12th overall in 2019. Sure, she wasn't the star of that championship team, averaging about 13 minutes a game, but she soaked up everything she could from the veterans around her.

Fast forward a few years, and Magbegor has become the kind of defensive anchor every team wishes they had - the type of player who can erase mistakes with perfectly timed blocks and make opposing centers think twice about driving to the rim. Her 6-foot-4 frame helps, but it's her basketball IQ and relentless work ethic that earned her a spot on the 2022 All-Defensive Second Team. Between her duties with the Storm and representing Australia on the international stage with the Opals, Magbegor has quietly become one of those players coaches build their game plans around. She's still developing her offensive game, still learning, but that championship ring from her rookie year? That taught her what it takes to win at the highest level.

Ezi Magbegor's Early Life

Ezioda Magbegor's early life starts from Melbourne, Australia where she was brought up in a Nigerian-Australian family. Although growing up, no financial harm came to her but she faced the hardship of an immigrant family, one that understands the value of education, hardships and compromises. Her parents made sure to instill in her values, discipline and a great and strong sense of cultural identity. Unlike other WNBA prodigies, she didn't have the fire for basketball until she was around 10 years old.

It was a school basketball program that first made her acquainted with the sport and her gameplay grabbed the attention of all the coaches. She was not the loudest in the room but even then she absorbed instructions and she had a sense of timing that made her a stand out even as a rookie. She did not belong to a family where sports was centred but she found herself surrounded with strong peers and mentors who respected her potential. Ezi had often spoken of how Lauren Jackson had a deep influence and impact on her perspective of basketball. Watching her, Ezi decided to carve a path for herself in the Hall of Fame of basketball.

Ezi Magbegor's Personal Information

Ezi Magbegor's story actually begins in Wellington, New Zealand, where she was born to Nigerian parents before her family packed up and moved across the Tasman Sea when she was just six years old. Landing in Melbourne's west, she grew up in a household where basketball wasn't just a game, it was practically a family tradition. Her older siblings Elo and Ovie were already making moves on the court (Ovie would later play college ball at the University of West Georgia), and little Ezi wasn't about to be left out.

With a Spalding in her hands and a backyard hoop calling her name, she started following in their footsteps, though nobody could have predicted just how far those steps would take her. The Magbegor household was one of those places where Nigerian culture mixed with Australian life, creating the kind of environment where education mattered as much as athletics - Ezi would later graduate from Deakin University with a psychology degree in 2021, proving she was serious about life beyond the court. Fast forward through years of local leagues and youth competitions, and that kid shooting hoops in Melbourne's west is now anchoring the paint for the Seattle Storm as their center, not just playing in the WNBA but making the kind of impact that has coaches and fans talking about Australia's next basketball superstar. Today, apart from her stats, we are going to take a deep dive into her whole life:

Ezi Magbegor's Personal Life

Ezi Magbegor's story actually started in Wellington, New Zealand, where she was born to Nigerian parents Patience and Appolus Magbegor, who had big dreams for their growing family. When Ezi was just six years old, her parents made the life-changing decision to pack up everything and move across the Tasman Sea to Craigieburn, a suburb about 35 kilometers north of Melbourne, seeking better opportunities to raise their four children. Her parents, Patience and Appolus, instilled in her a strong sense of values, discipline, and responsibility, creating a household where Nigerian culture beautifully blended with Australian life.

Ezi is one of four siblings in this tight-knit basketball-loving family - her older sister Elo, older sibling Ovie (who played college basketball at the University of West Georgia), and younger brother AJ. Basketball became the family's shared passion, with her parents driving their four sporty kids everywhere for games and practices, and both Elo and Ovie were instrumental in getting Ezi interested in the sport during their youth. She's always been quick to credit her siblings in interviews, talking about how they supported her throughout her journey from those early days shooting hoops in suburban Melbourne. Her youngest sibling, AJ Magbegor, is definitely following in the family's athletic footsteps as a 6-foot-7 forward who joined Howard University's basketball program, where he's been described as a versatile hybrid forward who can play multiple positions, proving that basketball excellence truly runs in the Magbegor genes.

Ezi Magbegor's Parents

Ezi has stated in countless interviews that everything she's accomplished on the basketball court traces back to her parents, Patience and Appolus Magbegor, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their children's future when they left Nigeria and eventually settled their growing family in New Zealand, then Australia. Born on August 13, 1999, in Wellington, New Zealand, Ezi was just six years old when her parents made another life-changing decision to pack up their lives once again and move the family across the Tasman Sea to Craigieburn, a suburb north of Melbourne, where they believed their four children could truly thrive. Both Patience and Appolus understood that success in life required more than just athletic talent, so they created a household where academics were just as important as athletics, a philosophy that would later see Ezi graduate from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Psychology degree in 2021, proving she was serious about developing her mind alongside her basketball skills.

Her parents' unwavering support meant driving to countless practices, games, and tournaments, all while ensuring Ezi never lost sight of her Nigerian heritage or the values that shaped their family. This careful balance between education, culture, and sport that her parents maintained helped pave a path full of achievements, transforming a young girl who started playing basketball at age eight into one of Australia's most talented centers, not forwards, who now anchors the paint for the Seattle Storm and has been recognized with selections to the WNBA All-Defensive teams. The foundation that Ezi Magbegor's Parents have built through their sacrifices, guidance, and unwavering belief in their daughter's potential is evident every time Ezi steps onto the court, carrying with her the dreams of two Nigerian immigrants who gave up everything to give their children a shot at greatness.

Ezi Magbegor Contract

When Ezi Magbegor was just 19 years old, she took a leap of faith that would change her life forever. The towering Australian was drafted 12th overall by the Seattle Storm in 2019, but it wasn't until 2020 that she finally stepped onto American soil to chase her WNBA dreams. That rookie season? Pure magic – she helped bring a championship banner to Seattle.
Fast forward to 2025, and "Easy E" has become the heartbeat of the Storm's defense. Her latest contract tells the story of a player who's earned every dollar: a one-year, $186,000 fully guaranteed deal that represents the maximum raise the WNBA rules would allow. When she signed that extension on June 4, 2024, it was fresh off a season where opposing teams feared driving to the rim – she led the entire league in blocks per game.
The numbers don't lie, but they also don't capture everything. This is the same player who went from earning $155,000 in 2024 to nearly $31,000 more – a significant jump that reflects her evolution from promising young talent to All-Defensive First Team selection. At 6'4", Magbegor doesn't just fill up the stat sheet; she fills the lanes, disrupts offensive schemes, and has grown into the two-way force Seattle always believed she could become. Her story isn't just about contracts – it's about a young woman who crossed oceans to fulfill her basketball destiny.

Ezi Magbegor's Salary

Ezi Magbegor has been playing for the Seattle Storm since she was picked up as overall 12th in the 2020 WBNA Draft. It seems from her contracts as if both Ezi and the team are compatible with each other. After her contract expired on the 4th of June, 2024, Ezi signed a one year contract extension for $186,000. Here is her salary breakdown:

Ezi Magbegor's Net Worth

Ezi Magbegor net worth is estimated to be around $1 million, her growing financial portfolio tells the story of a savvy athlete building her brand across multiple continents. The 25-year-old Australian has smartly diversified her income beyond just WNBA contracts.
Her 2025 WNBA salary with Seattle Storm sits at $186,000, but that's just one piece of her financial puzzle. Magbegor made history as Spalding's first-ever female ambassador, signing a two-year endorsement deal in 2020 that put her alongside NBA stars like Chris Paul and Damian Lillard. She also has a relationship with Nike Australia, though specific contract details aren't publicly available.
The real money likely comes from her overseas play during WNBA off-seasons and her role with the Australian national team, the Opals. She helped Australia win bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, enhancing her international marketability. Smart investments and endorsement deals suggest she's building wealth methodically, though specific figures remain closely guarded. Her financial success mirrors her on-court growth – steady, strategic, and always reaching higher.

Ezi Magbegor's Career

For Seattle Storm fans, Ezi Magbegor's name has become synonymous with defensive dominance and quiet leadership. But the journey to becoming one of the WNBA's most feared rim protectors began thousands of miles away in an unexpected place.
Born in New Zealand to Nigerian parents, Magbegor's family moved to Australia when she was just six years old. Growing up in Melbourne's west, the tall, athletic youngster discovered her calling on the basketball court. Her breakout moment came at age 17 when she dominated the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, earning MVP honors and helping Australia's Sapphires capture gold. Even then, basketball insiders were whispering that she could be "the next Lauren Jackson" – Australia's greatest basketball export.
At just 20 years old, she was selected 12th overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft by Seattle, though she didn't join the team until 2020. What followed was a storybook rookie season – helping the Storm capture the championship while establishing herself as a defensive anchor.
Now in her sixth WNBA season, Ezi Magbegor's stats has blossomed into exactly what Seattle envisioned. Her 2024 campaign was spectacular, leading the league with 2.9 blocks per game and earning All-Defensive First Team honors. Internationally, she's helped Australia reach new heights, including a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lake Ginninderra High School Career

When Ezi Magbegor was just a teenager in Canberra, basketball wasn't just a hobby, it was her obsession. Every morning at Lake Ginninderra College, she'd rush to the gym with that familiar flutter of excitement in her stomach, knowing she was part of something special through the Australia Centre of Excellence program. Her teammates became her second family, and her coaches pushed her harder than she'd ever been pushed before. There were days when her muscles ached so badly she could barely climb the stairs to her next class, but she loved every minute of it. The smell of the gymnasium, the squeak of sneakers on polished floors, the satisfying swish of a perfect shot, these became the soundtrack of her teenage years. Then everything changed when she turned 17. The phone call from the Canberra Capitals felt surreal, like something that happened to other people, not to a girl who was still figuring out what to wear to school each morning. Suddenly, she wasn't just dreaming about playing professional basketball - she was living it, right there in her hometown.

Ezi Magbegor Professional Career

Ezi Magbegor is a talented Australian basketball player who has made a strong mark in both local and international competitions. She began her professional career in 2017 with the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL and later signed with the Melbourne Boomers, winning a WNBL championship in the 2021–22 season. In 2019, she was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the WNBA and joined the team in 2020, where she won a WNBA championship in her rookie season. Known for her elite defense, Ezi has been named to the WNBA All-Defensive Teams and was a WNBA All-Star in 2023.

She also played in Europe, starring for USK Prague, where she helped win the Czech league title and earned a spot on the All-EuroLeague First Team. Internationally, Ezi has been a key player for the Australian Opals, winning medals at the FIBA World Cup and earning a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics with a standout 30-point, 13-rebound game. At just 25, Ezi is already one of the best defenders in the women’s game and continues to grow as a global basketball star.

Ezi Magbegor Awards and Achievements

You know that kid in school who just had "it"? That's Ezi Magbegor. She didn't come from some basketball dynasty where everyone's got trophies lining the walls and Dad's yelling plays from the couch during Sunday games. Nope. Ezi just fell head-over-heels in love with basketball the way some people fall for their first crush, completely, hopelessly, and with zero plan B.
Picture this: while her friends were probably arguing over weekend movie choices, Ezi was in the gym at ungodly hours, shooting free throws until her arms felt like jelly. Her family probably thought she'd lost her mind, spending every spare minute dribbling around the house and practicing crossovers in the backyard. But here's the thing about Ezi - she's got this stubborn streak a mile wide and the kind of determination that makes you simultaneously exhausted and inspired just watching her.
Now look at her trophy collection. Each award isn't just some shiny piece of metal, it's proof that sometimes the craziest dreams actually come true when you're too stubborn to quit.