WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike announces retirement after 15-season career
Forward Nneka Ogwumike said she will retire at the end of the season, concluding a 15-year run that includes an MVP award and a championship.
Nneka Ogwumike, a 36-year-old forward who has been selected to the All-WNBA team eight times, announced she will retire after completing the current season, marking the end of a 15-year tenure in the league. Returning to the Los Angeles Sparks following a two-year stint in Seattle, she entered the year as an All-Star for the 11th time and is averaging close to 17 points per game. Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, earned Rookie of the Year honors and was named league MVP in 2016 when she helped the Sparks capture the championship.
Former Sparks teammate Alana Beard lauded her rare combination of strength, purpose, and grace, noting her influence on and off the court. In addition to her on-court achievements, Ogwumike served as president of the WNBPA, where she was credited by executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson for steering a transformative collective bargaining deal. She expressed contentment with her career and the state of women's basketball as she prepares to step away.
Why it matters
Her retirement ends one of the most celebrated careers in women's basketball and highlights progress in player leadership.
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