Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, a 2016 WNBA MVP, 11-time All-Star and president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, announced that she will retire at the end of the season.
Ogwumike, 36, currently ranks fourth in league history in points (7,879) and third in rebounds (3,565) after playing 13 of her 15 WNBA seasons with the Sparks.
Off the court, she has served as the president of the WNBA players union since 2016, steering it through a pair of collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
“I’ve learned there’s power in knowing when to walk away,” Ogwumike told Boardroom Talks. “For so long, that strength meant finding a way to keep pushing. Now, it means recognizing when you feel complete. I find myself grateful, fulfilled, and at peace with everything this game has given me and everything I’ve poured into it.”
Ogwumike is averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds in 34 games (all starts) this season with Los Angeles. She was selected by the Sparks with the top overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft and went on to win Rookie of the Year honors.
Her MVP season in 2016 saw her average 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game over 33 games, fueling the Sparks to the WNBA championship.
“There is no telling the story of the WNBA’s recent growth and evolution without Nneka Ogwumike,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “Her extraordinary career has been defined not only by excellence, but by the way she has led and lifted those around her. She is a champion and MVP, one of the most accomplished players of all time, and a fierce competitor who has represented the very best our game has to offer. For 15 seasons, Nneka has led with grace and conviction, competed with an unmistakable spark, and carried herself with a generosity and thoughtfulness that have earned the admiration of everyone across our game.
“Nneka will retire at the end of this season leaving the WNBA much better than she found it — a testament not only to the player she has been, but to the person and leader she is. I have been fortunate to work closely with Nneka over the years and have been inspired by her passion and unwavering commitment to the players. It has been a privilege to watch her remarkable journey, and while there is still more basketball to be played this season, we congratulate her on an extraordinary career and look forward to celebrating her in the months ahead.”
Ogwumike spent the initial 12 seasons of her career in Los Angeles before joining the Seattle Storm for two seasons (2024-25). She returned to the Sparks on a one-year deal.
“Playing in the ‘W’ for 15 seasons has given me far more than I ever imagined,” Ogwumike said. “I’ve been challenged as a competitor, shaped as a leader, and exposed to unforgettable people and experiences. I can stand proudly as the player I’ve become, and even more proud of the woman I am becoming.”
Los Angeles (12-23) has lost five in a row and resides on the brink of postseason elimination with nine games left in the season.
Front Office Sports reported Wednesday that Ogwumike still plans to compete in Project B’s inaugural season in January. She was one of the first WNBA players to sign up for the six-team, five-on-five international league.
The outlet also reported that she will remain the WNBPA president until the next election, which is expected to come before the end of the year.
–Field Level Media
