Nneka Ogwumike

As of September 12, 2026, Nneka Ogwumike is a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks and has announced that she will retire from the WNBA at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The Sparks selected her first overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft, beginning a career that has included a 2016 league MVP award, a 2016 WNBA championship and WNBA Rookie of the Year honors.

Ogwumike is listed at 6 feet 2 inches and was born July 2, 1990, in Tomball, Texas. She played collegiately at Stanford, where she became one of the program’s most accomplished players and helped lead the Cardinal to four Final Four appearances. Her professional game has been defined by efficient interior scoring, rebounding, defensive activity and dependable two-way play.

A longtime leader on and off the court, Ogwumike has been recognized as a WNBA All-Star, an All-WNBA selection and an All-Defensive Team honoree. She also served as president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, becoming an influential voice in the league’s player leadership and labor efforts. She spent 13 of her 15 WNBA seasons with Los Angeles, with a Seattle stint between her Sparks periods, before returning to the franchise for the 2026 season.