Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike
Ogwumike with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023
No. 3 – Seattle Storm
PositionPower forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1990-07-02) July 2, 1990 (age 34)
Tomball, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolCy-Fair
(Cypress, Texas)
CollegeStanford (2008–2012)
WNBA draft2012: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2023Los Angeles Sparks
2012–2013CCC Polkowice
2013–2014Guangdong Vermilion Birds
2014–2018Dynamo Kursk
2019Guangdong Vermilion Birds
2024–presentSeattle Storm
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Representing  United States
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Turkey
Gold medal – first place 2018 Spain
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2011 Shenzhen Team
U19 World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2009 Bangkok

Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka" Ogwumike // ⓘ(/ˈnɛkə oʊˈɡwuːmɪkeɪ/; born July 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks first overall in the 2012 WNBA draft[1] and signed an endorsement deal with Nike soon after.[2] Ogwumike spent 12 seasons with the Sparks and was named WNBA MVP for the 2016 WNBA season and won the WNBA Finals the same year.[3] She was named to The 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" in the Igbo language of Nigeria - where her family hails from.[5] She is the older sister of Chiney Ogwumike, the first overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft, who most recently played for the Sparks. She attended Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas and led them to a 5A State Championship in her senior season.[6] While at Stanford University she helped the Cardinal reach the Final Four four times. Ogwumike was elected President of the WNBA Players Association in 2016[7] and was re-elected to a new three-year term in 2019.[8]

  1. ^ "Nnemkadi Ogwumike goes No. 1 to Los Angeles Sparks in WNBA draft – ESPN". Espn.go.com. April 16, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  2. ^ "Inside Access: Introducing Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike - Nike News". August 2, 2021. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Mandell, Nina (September 27, 2016). "Nneka Ogwumike named WNBA MVP". USA Today. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "WNBA Continues Celebration Of Landmark 25th Season, Names Greatest Players In League History, "The W25"" (Press release). WNBA. September 5, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ifeoma". Online Nigeria:Nigerian Names and meanings. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "USA Basketball: Nneka Ogwumike". Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  7. ^ "WNBA players turn to Nneka Ogwumike as players' union president". Espn.com. October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  8. ^ Nneka Ogwumike re-elected WNBPA president amid CBA talks