Nneka Ogwumike, one of the true legends of the WNBA, announced Wednesday morning that her incredible 17th season will be her last. She is officially calling it a career at the end of this season, a monumental move that will see one of the league’s most decorated players step off the court for good.
A Legend Leaving On Her Own Terms
Even in what’s going to be her final run, Ogwumike hasn’t slowed down one bit. This isn’t some farewell tour where she’s riding the bench. She’s still out there as a reliable starter, dropping a solid 16.9 points and grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. She’s shooting an insane 50.9% from the field and even hitting 38.7% from three-point range! Talk about leaving it all out there. She’s been a consistent shining light for the Sparks this season, even when the team has been banged up and struggling. This isn’t a forced exit, either. Ogwumike said it herself in an interview posted to Boardroom’s social media, “It feels good because I’m doing it on my terms in a way that I’ve always kind of envisioned.” How cool is that? She’s walking away exactly how she wanted, proud of her 15 years playing at such a high level. She never even thought she’d play this long, but she knew how she wanted to finish, and she’s doing it.
A Resume That’s Just Unstoppable
We are talking about one of the most decorated players in WNBA history, full stop. Ogwumike’s resume is absolutely stacked. She’s got an MVP award from 2016, a WNBA Championship ring from that same year, and she was the Rookie of the Year back in 2012. Eleven-time WNBA All-Star? Seriously? That’s just wild. She racked up eight All-WNBA honors, including a First-Team nod in 2016, and seven All-Defense honors, with four of those being First-Team selections. She was on the All-Rookie Team in 2012, too. This season alone, she blasted past Lisa Leslie to become the all-time leading scorer for the Sparks. Think about that for a second! When she officially hangs it up, she’ll be top five all-time in points, rebounds, AND steals across the entire league. That’s not just good, that’s legendary status. This isn’t just a player retiring, this is a cornerstone of the WNBA stepping down, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire for generations.
So, what’s left for fans? Six of the Sparks’ final nine games are in Los Angeles, culminating with the regular season finale against the Valkyries on September 24th. This is it. These are the last chances to see Madame President on the court. Go show your appreciation for a true giant of the game, because once she’s gone, that kind of consistent brilliance isn’t something you see every day.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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