Sports

Nneka Ogwumike closes 15-year WNBA career in Los Angeles

The former MVP finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds before the Sparks honored her in a postgame retirement ceremony.

Image credit: John Mac / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; archival July 2026 WNBA All-Star Game photo of Nneka Ogwumike, not Thursday’s finale

Nneka Ogwumike completed her 15-year WNBA career Thursday night as the Los Angeles Sparks fell 76–75 to the Golden State Valkyries, ESPN reported late September 24 Pacific time. Ogwumike recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in her final game, the 134th double-double of her career.

What it means locally

The Sparks honored Ogwumike after the game and announced that a player sanctuary in the team’s new practice facility will bear her name. The first overall pick in the 2012 draft, Ogwumike won the WNBA championship and league MVP award with Los Angeles in 2016. She had announced in August that the 2026 season would be her last.

Full report and further details: Read original report →