The Mawuli Sisters: Meet the Ghanaian siblings representing Japan at 2024 Olympics

Evelyn and Stephanie Mawuli are Ghanaian siblings playing for the Japanese women's basketball team at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Evelyn and Stephanie were in action for Japan in their 102-76 defeat to the USA in the opening game of the Olympics.

The siblings are three years apart, with Evelyn being born in 1995 and Stephanie in 1998.

They were both born in Toyohashi, Japan, to Ghanaian immigrants who became Japanese citizens in 2009 after their children were naturalised to play for Japan.

Evelyn, the oldest, has played through the ranks for Japan, from the U-16 level to the senior team, making her international debut in 2009 when she played at the FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship held in India. She has four FIBA medals.

The 29-year-old entered the WNBA draft in 2017 but was not drafted and subsequently joined Toyota Antelopes, where she has been playing since.

She won a silver medal with Japan at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo after losing to the USA in the final. She has six medals to her credit, including those from her junior years.

Stephanie, on the other hand, has a total of eight medals throughout her career, including her junior years.

She made her professional debut in 2017. Just like her sister, Stephanie has played at all levels for Japan, including representing the country in 3x3 basketball competitions.

She signed a contract to play in a training camp for the WNBA side New York Liberty in 2023 but was waived after a year, ending her hopes of pursuing a career in the USA.

She subsequently signed for the Japanese side Basket Zaragoza after her contract termination.

Unlike Evelyn, Stephanie made her Olympic debut when she played for Japan in the defeat to the USA on Monday, July 29, 2024.

EE/OGB