Former WNBA MVP Ogwumike to retire at end of the season

Ogwumike gave the Sparks 12 seasons before moving to Seattle Storm for two seasons. She returned to the Sparks where she will now finish her career. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Eleven-time NBA All-Star and players’ union president Nneka Ogwumike will retire at the end of this season. She announced her decision on Wednesday, bringing to a close a 15-season-long career.

“I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I’ve been able to play and compete at such a high level,” Ogwumike said, revealing her decision ‌during an interview with Boardroom Talks.

“Even though I didn’t ​know what kind of player that I could be in this league, ​I never thought that I would play this long,” the 36-year-old Los Angeles Sparks forward said.

Ogwumike was drafted ⁠first overall by the Sparks in 2012 and the side to the championship in 2016, a season where she earned league MVP honours too.

Nneka Ogwumike announces that she will be retiring from the WNBA by the end of the season.

What a career you've had @NnekaOgwumike. You changed the lives of the women of the W🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/KHT3FVQDcb

— Athlete Vanity (@AthleteVanity) August 19, 2026

She gave the Sparks 12 seasons before moving to Seattle Storm for two seasons. She returned to the Sparks where she will now finish her career.

“It’s a little bit my body. I ​still feel very good, but I also feel the comfort of slowing down,” ​Ogwumike said. “I just feel content. I feel very content with where I’ve left my career, with ‌15 ⁠years under my belt. I feel very content about what we were able to achieve coming into this season, where we see the league today.”

Ogwumike is averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season.

“Nneka will retire at the end ​of this season leaving ​the WNBA much ⁠better than she found it — a testament not only to the player she has been, but to the person and ​leader she is,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a ​statement.

“It has been a privilege to ⁠watch her ​remarkable journey, and while there is still more ​basketball to be played this season, we congratulate her on an extraordinary career and look forward to ​celebrating her in the months ahead.”