Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka"Ogwumike// ⓘ(/ˈnɛkəoʊˈɡwuːmɪkeɪ/; born July 2, 1990) is an American professionalbasketball player for theSeattle Storm of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted by theLos Angeles Sparks first overall in the2012 WNBA draft[1] and signed an endorsement deal withNike soon after.[2] Ogwumike spent 12 seasons with theSparks and was namedWNBA MVP for the2016 WNBA season and won theWNBA Finals the same year.[3] She was named toThe W25, the league's list of the top 25 players of its first 25 years, in 2021.[4]
Her name "Nneka" means "Mother is Supreme" inthe Igbo language ofNigeria - where her family hails from.[5] She is the older sister ofChiney Ogwumike, the first overall pick in the2014 WNBA draft, who most recently played for theSparks. She attendedCy-Fair High School inCypress,Texas and led them to a 5A State Championship in her senior season.[6] While atStanford University she helped the Cardinal reach theFinal Four four times. Ogwumike was elected President of theWNBA Players Association in 2016[7] and was re-elected to a new three-year term in 2019.[8]
Ogwumike was named aWBCA All-American. She participated in the 2008 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored 17 points, grabbed 6 rebounds,[9] and earned MVP honors for the White team.[10] She averaged 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game during the 2007–08 season atCy-Fair High School.
Ogwumike chose Stanford overBaylor,Duke,Connecticut,Tennessee andNotre Dame.[11] She was a member of USA Under 18 Team that won gold in Argentina on July 23–27, 2008. Nneka tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game of the Under-18 FIBA Americas. She led team USA to a 5–0 record while leading the team in scoring and rebounding. She was named MVP of this tournament inArgentina.
Nneka also played with her sister,Chiney Ogwumike, at Stanford.[12]
In a 100-80 victory overOregon on January 23, 2010, Ogwumike set a new Cardinal record for rebounds in a game with 23.[13]
On December 20, 2011, Ogwumike scored a career-high 42 points on 19 for 27 shooting while also grabbing 17 rebounds in a 97–80 win over the sixth-rankedTennessee Lady Vols.[14]
On January 7, 2012, Ogwumike surpassed both the 2,000 point and the 1,000 rebound thresholds for her career with a 33-point, 16 rebound performance againstOregon State.[15]
Ogwumike left the Stanford Cardinal as the second all-time leading scorer for the women's basketball program, behind onlyCandice Wiggins.[13]
Ogwumike was a member of theUSA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal at theFIBA Americas Championship inBuenos Aires,Argentina. The event was held in July 2008, when the USA team defeated hostArgentina to win the championship.[16] Ogwumike helped the team win all five games, starting all five games and leading all scorers with 12.6 points per game. She was also the leading rebounder with 8 per game. Ogwumike recorded 15 rebounds in the final game againstArgentina, an U18 record.[17]
Ogwumike continued on to theUSA Women's U19 team which represented the US in the 2009 U19 World's Championship, held inBangkok,Thailand in July and August 2009.[18] Although the USA team lost the opening game toSpain, they went on to win their next seven games to earn a rematch against Spain in the finals, and won the game 81–71 to earn the gold medal. Ogwumike started all nine games and was the team's leading scorer, with 13.6 points per game. She was the leading rebounder with almost ten per game, and was named to the all-tournament team.[19]
Ogwumike played on the team presenting the US at the 2011World University Games held inShenzhen,China, along with her sister,Chiney Ogwumike . The team, coached byBill Fennelly, won all six games to earn the gold medal. Ogwumike averaged 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, both second place on the team behindElena Delle Donne.[20]
Ogwumike had also played for Team USA at the2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, helping Team USA beatSpain 77–64 in the gold medal game.
On April 16, 2012, theLos Angeles Sparks picked Ogwumike first overall in the2012 WNBA draft. She became the second player fromCypress-Fairbanks High School to be drafted No. 1 overall into theWNBA behindLindsey Harding in 2007. On July 12, 2012, Ogwumike set a career-high in rebounds with 20 to go along with 22 points in a 77–74 win over the eventualWNBA championIndiana Fever. On September 13, 2012, she scored a season high 30 points on 10 of 15 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds in an 86–77 win over theChicago Sky. In the regular season finale on September 20, 2012, Ogwumike matched her teammateCandace Parker for team highs in both points and rebounds with each player earning 22 and 11, respectively, in a 92–76 win over the defending WNBA championMinnesota Lynx. Ogwumike was 10 for 13 from the field.[21]
Ogwumike was named WNBA Rookie of the Month four out of five times in her rookie season.[22] On October 7, 2012, Ogwumike was awarded as the 2012WNBA Rookie of the Year. It marked the fifth consecutive year that the award had been won by the first overall draft pick.[23]
During the 2014 season, Ogwumike averaged 15.8 ppg and was voted as aWNBA All-star for the second time in her career along with her sisterChiney Ogwumike, becoming the first pair of sisters to be selected into aWNBA All-Star game.[24]
In 2016, Ogwumike re-signed with theSparks once her rookie contract expired.[25] During the season, Ogwumike was namedAPWNBA Player of the Year, while finishing third in the league in scoring (19.7 ppg), third in the league in rebounding (9.1 rpg) and first in field goal percentage (.665).[26] Her season performance would also help her earn the 2016WNBA Most Valuable Player Award. During the season, Ogwumike had set aWNBA record for most consecutive field goals made (23 consecutive field goals over three games) and set a new WNBA single-game record for most field-goal attempts without a miss in which she scored 32 points on 12 of 12 field goal shooting in a 97–73 win over theDallas Wings.[27] On June 30, 2016, she scored a career-high 38 points along with 11 rebounds in an 84–75 victory against theAtlanta Dream.[28][29] In addition, she set the basketball record for highesttrue shooting percentage by reaching 73.7% during the season, becoming the most efficient shooter in the history of professional basketball.[30] With a supporting cast ofCandace Parker andKristi Toliver, theSparks were a championship contender in the league with a 26–8 record. With theWNBA's new playoff format in effect, theSparks were the number 2 seed in the league with a double-bye to the semi-finals (the last round before theWNBA Finals) facing theChicago Sky. TheSparks defeated the Sky 3–1 in the series, advancing to theWNBA Finals for the first time since 2003. In theWNBA Finals, it was the second time in league history where two teams from the same conference faced each other in theFinals due to the new playoff format. Against the championship-defendingMinnesota Lynx, theSparks won the championship in a hard-fought five-game series, winning their first championship since 2002. Ogwumike won her first careerWNBA championship. In game five of the series, Ogwumike had 12 points along with 12 rebounds and scored a game-winning shot after grabbing an offensive rebound to put the Sparks up 77–76 with 3 seconds left in the game.[31] Ogwumike became the seventh player inWNBA history to win both the regular seasonMVP award and a championship in the same season.[32]
In 2017, Ogwumike signed a contract extension with theSparks.[33] During the 2017 season, Ogwumike was voted into the2017 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her fourth career all-star appearance. On August 18, 2017, Ogwumike scored a season-high 32 points along with 10 rebounds in a 115–106 double overtime victory over theChicago Sky.[34][35] By the end of the season, Ogwumike led theSparks in scoring for the second season in a row, averaging 18.8 ppg and the Sparks finished as the number 2 seed for the second year in a row with the same record, receiving a double-bye to the semi-finals. TheSparks would go on to advance to theFinals for the second season in a row, after defeating thePhoenix Mercury in a 3-game sweep, setting up a rematch with theLynx. However, theSparks would lose in five games, failing to win back-to-back championships.
To start off 2018, Ogwumike scored a season-high 25 points in an 87–70 victory over theIndiana Fever.[36] Later on in the season, Ogwumike was voted into the2018 WNBA All-Star Game but would miss the game due to fatigue, which kept her sidelined for over a week in mid July.[37] Ogwumike made her return on August 2, 2018, against theMinnesota Lynx and scored 15 points in a 79–57 victory.[38] Ogwumike finished off the season averaging 15.5 ppg. TheSparks finished 19–15 with the number 6 seed in the league. In the first round elimination game, they defeated the championship-defendingMinnesota Lynx 75–68. In the second round elimination game, theSparks lost 96–64 to theWashington Mystics.
On July 4, 2019, Ogwumike scored a season-high 31 points along with 10 rebounds in a 98–81 victory over theWashington Mystics.[39] Ogwumike would be voted into the2019 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her 6th all-star appearance. TheSparks finished off the season as the number 3 seed with a 22–12 record, receiving a bye to the second round. In the second round elimination game, theSparks defeated the defending championsSeattle Storm 92–69. In the semi-finals, theSparks were eliminated in a three-game sweep by theConnecticut Sun.
In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble atIMG Academy due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. On September 12, 2020, Ogwumike scored a season-high 24 points in a 84–70 loss to theLas Vegas Aces.[40] Ogwumike played 18 of the 22 games (sitting out 4 games with a back injury). TheSparks finished the season 15–7 as the number 3 seed, receiving a bye to the second round, but were once again eliminated by theConnecticut Sun in the elimination game, Ogwumike was unable to play for the game due to an illness.[41]
In January 2021, Ogwumike re-signed with theSparks to a multi-year deal.[42] During the 2021 season. theWNBA's 25th, she was named toThe W25 as one of the top 25 players in league history,[4] and at the end of the season was selected for theWNBA'sKim Perrot Sportsmanship Award for the third consecutive year.[43]
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On February 5, 2024, Ogwumike signed a one-year contract with theSeattle Storm.[44]
On February 8, 2025, Ogwumike re-signed with Seattle for one more year.[45]
In the 2012–13 off-season, Ogwumike played inPoland forCCC Polkowice and won a championship with the team. In the 2013–2014 off-season, she played inChina forGuangdong Vermilion Birds. In the 2014–2018 off-seasons, Ogwumike played inRussia forDynamo Kursk and won the2017 Euroleague with the club.[46] She returned to Guangdong in 2019.[47]
In February 2024, Ogwumike joined the WNBA Changemakers Collective and their collaboration with VOICEINSPORT (VIS) as a mentor, "aimed at keeping girls in sport and developing diverse leaders on the court and beyond the game."[49][50]
In August 2024, Ogwumike took over leadership of the non-profit voting rights organization,More Than a Vote, founded byLeBron James in 2020. Ogwumike has recruited several female athletes to join the organization and has committed to shifting its focus to women's reproductive rights for the 2024 election cycle.[51]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
| † | Denotes seasons in which Ogwumike won aWNBA championship |
Stats current through end of 2024 season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Los Angeles | 33 | 33 | 27.9 | .535 | .143 | .734 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 14.0 |
| 2013 | Los Angeles | 34 | 34 | 25.8 | .566 | .400 | .826 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 14.6 |
| 2014 | Los Angeles | 33 | 33 | 27.6 | .520 | .300 | .873 | 7.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 15.8 |
| 2015 | Los Angeles | 23 | 23 | 34.1° | .525 | .083 | .866 | 7.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 16.5 |
| 2016† | Los Angeles | 33 | 33 | 31.6 | .665° | .615 | .869 | 9.1 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 19.7 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles | 34 | 34 | 30.9 | .561 | .340 | .870 | 7.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 18.8 |
| 2018 | Los Angeles | 27 | 27 | 30.8 | .525 | .346 | .816 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 15.5 |
| 2019 | Los Angeles | 32 | 32 | 27.9 | .510 | .338 | .828 | 8.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 16.1 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles | 18 | 18 | 26.2 | .569 | .500 | .837 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 13.3 |
| 2021 | Los Angeles | 18 | 18 | 31.7 | .532 | .367 | .800 | 6.5 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 14.5 |
| 2022 | Los Angeles | 34 | 34 | 31.4 | .544 | .368 | .826 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 18.1 |
| 2023 | Los Angeles | 36 | 36 | 31.1 | .512 | .339 | .870 | 8.8 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 19.1 |
| 2024 | Seattle | 37 | 37 | 31.8 | .511 | .405 | .876 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 16.7 |
| Career | 13 years, 2 teams | 393 | 392 | 29.8 | .542 | .368 | .841 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 16.5 |
| All-Star | 8 | 3 | 19.5 | .649 | .000 | — | 6.3 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 12.5 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Los Angeles | 4 | 4 | 25.8 | .552 | — | .400 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 9.0 |
| 2013 | Los Angeles | 3 | 3 | 30.3 | .419 | — | .909 | 11.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 12.0 |
| 2014 | Los Angeles | 2 | 2 | 30.0 | .667 | — | 1.000 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 13.0 |
| 2015 | Los Angeles | 3 | 3 | 30.7 | .600 | — | .833 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 11.7 |
| 2016† | Los Angeles | 9 | 9 | 31.4 | .625 | .222 | .763 | 9.3 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 17.9 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles | 8 | 8 | 31.5 | .482 | .100 | .744 | 8.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 14.0 |
| 2018 | Los Angeles | 2 | 2 | 33.8 | .400 | — | .733 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 13.5 |
| 2019 | Los Angeles | 4 | 4 | 29.1 | .592 | .400 | .857 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 18.0 |
| 2024 | Seattle | 2 | 2 | 37.0 | .324 | .222 | 1.000 | 10.0 | 2.0 | 3.0° | 0.5 | 0.5 | 14.5 |
| Career | 9 years, 2 teams | 37 | 37 | 30.8 | .531 | .212 | .771 | 7.9 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 14.4 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Stanford | 38 | 14 | 21.0 | .629 | — | .702 | 6.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 10.6 |
| 2009–10 | Stanford | 38 | 38 | 30.4 | .598 | .000 | .761 | 9.9 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 18.5 |
| 2010–11 | Stanford | 33 | 33 | 28.8 | .586 | .222 | .757 | 7.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 17.5 |
| 2011–12 | Stanford | 36 | 36 | 30.0 | .547 | .235 | .830 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 22.5 |
| Career | 145 | 121 | 27.5 | .591 | .109 | .762 | 8.5 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 17.2 |
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata
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