On Wednesday, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike announced that she will retire from the WNBA at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Ogwumike was named Rookie of the Year in 2012 and WNBA MVP in 2016, when she also helped the Sparks win the championship. Her achievements include 11 All-Star selections, eight All-WNBA selections and seven All-Defensive Team selections. She was also named to The W25, which honored the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s 25th-anniversary season.
“I feel really good,” she said on Thursday. “I feel free about [retiring]. I feel that I’m doing it on my own terms, and I think what is most important is that I feel healthy and mentally sound. I’ve always told people that I didn’t want to be dragged off the court, but I definitely wanted to leave what I have left on the court. I realized early on that this season is what I have left. We have nine more games, and you’re not going to see a different me. I’m going to keep doing what I know how to do, and I’m looking forward to doing that.”
Ogwumike also leaves an enduring mark on the Los Angeles Sparks, where she spent 13 of her 15 WNBA seasons and became the franchise’s all-time leader in scoring, field goals made, steals and double-doubles.
Ogwumike reflected on the legacy she will leave with the Sparks.
“I think that you can live your legacy,” she said. “Every day, if you’re consistent and disciplined, [then] it becomes what it is. But, I’ve always said that I want to have a legacy that reflects that of contagion. Being great, making others great, being great because of others. That’s something that I’ve experienced in becoming who I am today and something that I try to use to pass the baton forward. I would hope that in some way we can all be inspired by each other to lead as best as we can and to perform at a high level as best as we can.”
Her impact extends well beyond the court. As WNBPA president since 2016, Ogwumike has been one of the most influential player leaders during a transformational period for the WNBA and women’s professional sports. During her tenure, WNBA players have secured higher salaries, expanded benefits, player protections, and resources that have helped redefine the standard for women’s professional basketball.
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