Los Angeles Sparks of USA’s Nigerian-born star, Nneka Ogwumike, has announced her plan to retire from the game at the end of the current season in the National Women’s Basketball Association (NWBA), where she is an 11-time All-Star and 2016 MVP.
Sports247 reports that the 36-year-old Ogwumike said she will quit the game of giants after the 2026 season because she understands that there is ‘power in knowing when to walk away,’ having spent a total of 15 seasons in the WNBA, across two different spells with The Sparks.
It signals an end to a remarkable era, during which the eight-time All-WNBA and seven-time All-Defensive star helped LA Sparks to the 2016 title, aided by her career-high 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game during the season, plus 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds over nine games in the playoffs.
The 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick out of Stanford University spent the first 12 years of her career with The Sparks before signing with Seattle Storm in the 2024 season, then returned to LA on a free-agent deal in April.
Ogwumike, who won gold with USA at two Women’s Basketball World Cups, while also serving as WNBA Players Association president since 2016, said, “For so long, that strength meant finding a way to keep pushing.
“Now, it means recognising when you feel complete. I find myself grateful, fulfilled, and at peace with everything this game has given me and everything I’ve poured into it. I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I’ve been able to play and compete at such a high level.”
Sports247 gathered further that, although Ogwumike admitted that part of the reason why she will retire after this term is due to her body telling her it’s time and that she wants to leave as ‘a whole person,’ she will still play during the new off-season Project B League this winter.
