Born in Tomball, Texas, Nneka Ogwumike played high school basketball for CY-Fair High School and was part of the 2008 McDonald's All-American game. The forward then chose Stanford to pursue her basketball career forward. After a successful college career at Stanford, Ogwumike was drafted as the first-overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2012 WNBA Draft. As a free agent in 2024, Ogwumike signed with the Seattle Storm after playing 12 seasons with the Spark, winning one WNBA Championship and one regular season MVP.
The nine-time All-Star is one of nine players to have 6000+ points and 2500+ rebounds and is also top-15 in offensive rebounds grabbed in the history of the WNBA. She has been selected for her third term as the Women's National Basketball Player's Association's President (WNBPA). The Storm forward has already served two terms before, the first one in 2016 and the second in 2019.
What team does Nneka Ogwumike play for?
In her 13-year-long career, Ogwumike has played for two WNBA franchises, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm. She was drafted as the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Spark in the 2012 WNBA Draft. After playing 12 seasons with the Spark, Ogwumike joined the Seattle Storm as a free-agent signing before the 2024 season.
After a successful college career, Ogwumike made a seamless transition into the WNBA and won Rookie of the Year. She averaged 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 53.% from the field. She also made her playoff debut with the Spark in the series against San Antonio Stars (now known as Las Vegas Aces).
With expectations high, Ogwumike delivered three consecutive All-Star appearances (2013-15) and earned All-League honors like All-WNBA second team in 2014 and All-Defensive first team in 2015. She also became one of the best players in the league and finished 11th in MVP voting in 2013 and 10th in 2015. She averaged 15..4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game and shot above 50% from the field in all three seasons.
In 2016, Ogwumike took the leap from one of the best players to the best in the league. She won the 2016 MVP and WNBA championship while also making All-WNBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team. The Spark forward also finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year race. She averaged 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game in the regular season and 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in the playoffs.
In the next seven years with the Spark, Ogwumike established herself as one of the greats of the WNBA. She made five All-Star games, four All-WNBA second teams, two All-Defensive first teams, two All-Defensive second teams and also had multiple top-five MVP finishes. In these seven years, Ogwumike averaged 16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
She holds the record for most points scored by an LA Sparks player in a season when she scored 689 points in 2023. The forward also holds the record for most offensive rebounds grabbed in a season when she grabbed 98 offensive rebounds in her rookie year (2012).
In 2024, Ogwumike signed with the Seattle Storm as a free agent and has fit in like a glove as the Storms are in a strong position to make the playoffs. She averages 17.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game, shooting 51.9% from the field.
FAQ's On Nneka Ogwumike Team
A. Nneka Ogwumike has played for two WNBA franchises, the Los Angeles Spark and the Seattle Storm.
A. Nneka Ogwumike won the WNBA Championship in 2016 while playing for Los Angeles Spark.
A. Nneka Ogwumike won the regular season MVP in 2016.
A. Nneka Ogwumike holds the record for most points scored by a LA Spark player in a season when she scored 689 points in 2023
