Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike proves most valuable off the court in challenging times
4 years, 5 months ago

Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike proves most valuable off the court in challenging times

LA Times  

The Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike, shown last season, has been getting ready for the pandemic-shortened WNBA season in Florida while also serving as players union president. In her role as players association president, Ogwumike helped lead conversations for the WNBA’s delayed season, ensuring players felt comfortable with the unprecedented circumstances and the league could meet any demands. “It’s been quite challenging, really, just because of what’s on everybody’s plate,” Ogwumike said on a virtual news conference from Bradenton, Fla., as the WNBA started training camp this weekend. With players opting out of the season, including Sparks guard Kristi Toliver and Ogwumike’s own sister Chiney, Nneka said she “had to be more deliberate in how I decided to kind of navigate the negotiations.” Health was a top priority, she said.

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History of this topic

Sparks hold off Liberty rally, knock off top team in WNBA and snap losing streak
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Sparks hold off Liberty rally, knock off top team in WNBA and snap losing streak

LA Times  

It’s been a rough season for the Sparks, and they found themselves in another dogfight on Wednesday, this time against the New York Liberty, the team with the best record in the WNBA. So for us to step back up, especially after the disappointment from Dallas, it just says so much about this team’s character.” Every time Liberty stars Sabrina …

WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale could make life tough for Team USA once again
5 months ago

WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale could make life tough for Team USA once again

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The last time the U.S. Women’s National Team snubbed Arike Ogunbowale, she made sure it paid on the basketball court. The Dallas Wings guard said on a podcast earlier this summer that there were “politics” surrounding the U.S. team’s selection process. Ogunbowale said her MVP performance three years ago was a great moment — and hopes there’s another …

Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike: Not one but two bold ballers
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike: Not one but two bold ballers

LA Times  

Women’s basketball icons Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike are used to the sister act narrative, and the public’s impulse to twin them as a single entity. In her three terms as WNBPA president, Nneka has steered the union through some of the league’s most significant and challenging times, including the pandemic-induced “Wubble” season in 2020, in which the players’ advocacy for …

Nneka Ogwumike haunts her former team as Storm rout Sparks
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Nneka Ogwumike haunts her former team as Storm rout Sparks

LA Times  

Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike, shown here earlier this season, had a big game against her former team. Nneka Ogwumike scored a season-high 26 points against her former team, Jewell Loyd added 21 points and the Seattle Storm beat the Sparks 95-79 on Tuesday night. Dearica Hamby had 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and Aari McDonald added 15 points off …

Former MVP Nneka Ogwumike becomes second big free agent to sign with the Seattle Storm
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Former MVP Nneka Ogwumike becomes second big free agent to sign with the Seattle Storm

Associated Press  

SEATTLE — Former WNBA MVP and eight-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike signed with the Seattle Storm on Monday, the second big splash in free agency for the franchise. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, was the 2016 league MVP and spent the first 12 seasons of her WNBA career playing for Los Angeles. Ogwumike helped Los Angeles make the playoffs …

Nneka Ogwumike tells Sparks she is leaving. What’s left for the team?
11 months ago

Nneka Ogwumike tells Sparks she is leaving. What’s left for the team?

LA Times  

Nneka Ogwumike was the cornerstone of Curt Miller‘s rebuild of the Sparks, but the former most valuable player is planning her exit after one year under the new coach. Ogwumike, an unrestricted free agent, told the Sparks she intends to leave after 12 seasons with the franchise that drafted her first overall in 2012, a person not authorized to speak …

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike selected for All-WNBA second team
1 year, 2 months ago

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike selected for All-WNBA second team

LA Times  

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike has been selected All-WNBA for the sixth time in her 12-year career. Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike has been selected Sunday for the All-WNBA team for the sixth time in her 12-year career. New York Liberty forward and season MVP Breanna Stewart, Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson are unanimous first-team …

Sparks stars Jordin Canada, Nneka Ogwumike selected to WNBA All-Defensive team
1 year, 3 months ago

Sparks stars Jordin Canada, Nneka Ogwumike selected to WNBA All-Defensive team

LA Times  

Sparks point guard Jordin Canada, who led the WNBA in steals, with 2.3 per game, and forward Nneka Ogwumike have been selected to the All-Defensive team, it was announced Friday. “Jordin is a relentless defender and was tasked with defending the opponent’s best perimeter guard each game, cementing herself as one of the premier guard defenders in the league,” Sparks …

Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike selected WNBA All-Star starter for second consecutive season
1 year, 6 months ago

Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike selected WNBA All-Star starter for second consecutive season

LA Times  

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, who is having one of her best seasons in the WNBA, has been selected to start in her second consecutive All-Star Game. Putting up numbers that rival her 2016 most valuable player season, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was selected to start in the WNBA All-Star Game for the second consecutive season Sunday. Defenses hound the 6-foot-2 …

Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike share vision for bright future
1 year, 9 months ago

Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike share vision for bright future

LA Times  

Forward Nneka Ogwumike has been an All-Star in seven of her 11 seasons with the Sparks, including last year. That’s why it meant so much that new Sparks general manager Karen Bryant and new coach Curt Miller made the trip to meet with Ogwumike in Texas during this critical offseason. She said Bryant and Miller fought her on the numbers, …

Dearica Hamby relieved to have fresh start with Sparks as WNBA free agency opens
1 year, 10 months ago

Dearica Hamby relieved to have fresh start with Sparks as WNBA free agency opens

LA Times  

Las Vegas Aces’ Dearica Hamby dribbles upcourt during a game against the Phoenix Mercury on May 6, 2022. Wednesday’s opening salvo of free-agent moves added to the Sparks’ previous trade acquisitions of Hamby and guard Jasmine Thomas, who last played for Miller with the Connecticut Sun. “Nneka’s been very supportive since the very beginning,” Hamby said, “and also kind of …

What’s next for the Sparks’ unrestricted free agents?
2 years, 4 months ago

What’s next for the Sparks’ unrestricted free agents?

LA Times  

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, right, tries to shoot as Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas defends during the first half on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. “The Sparks, with what we’ve gone through the past four years, I think moving forward we’re in a position to create a really great foundation for getting back to where we need to go.” Katie Lou …

Nneka Ogwumike isn’t quitting on Sparks. She wants to stay and ‘build our house’
2 years, 4 months ago

Nneka Ogwumike isn’t quitting on Sparks. She wants to stay and ‘build our house’

LA Times  

Nneka Ogwumike’s teammates have already left for greener pastures. Yet with the Sparks heading into their second consecutive early offseason after Sunday’s dismal 116-88 finale against the Dallas Wings, Ogwumike didn’t hesitate when asked whether she wanted to return to L.A. next year. After rolling her ankle midway through the fourth quarter of Thursday’s blowout loss to Connecticut that sealed …

‘I’m just getting started’: Sparks’ Lexie Brown proves importance of WNBA role player
2 years, 5 months ago

‘I’m just getting started’: Sparks’ Lexie Brown proves importance of WNBA role player

LA Times  

The WNBA’s third-best three-point shooter watched the league’s annual three-point contest on a TV in Las Vegas, more than 1,700 miles away from the All-Star festivities in Chicago. “She’s been this shooter,” said Sykes, who recalled a game when Brown dropped 31 points on Sykes’ Syracuse team as a freshman at Maryland. I’m happy that everybody else in the world …

Liz Cambage, Nneka Ogwumike each score 21 points in Sparks’ 500th regular-season win
2 years, 5 months ago

Liz Cambage, Nneka Ogwumike each score 21 points in Sparks’ 500th regular-season win

LA Times  

Nneka Ogwumike, shown in May, scored 21 points Friday night as the Sparks beat the Dallas Wings 97-89 for the franchise’s 500th regular-season victory. Liz Cambage had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Nneka Ogwumike also scored 21 points, and the Sparks beat the Dallas Wings 97-89 on Friday night. Katie Lou Samuelson added 14 points, Lexie Brown scored 10 of …

Nneka Ogwumike is guiding force for Sparks but L.A. falls short against Sky
2 years, 6 months ago

Nneka Ogwumike is guiding force for Sparks but L.A. falls short against Sky

LA Times  

Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike moves the ball during the game against the Chicago Sky on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. She starred in a WNBA Sports Illustrated swimsuit spread this season and she led the Sparks with 18 points and 7.7 rebounds entering Thursday’s game. While Parker brought her hometown Sky its first WNBA championship, Ogwumike was left to carry the Sparks …

Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike determined to rise after injury, Olympic snub
3 years, 4 months ago

Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike determined to rise after injury, Olympic snub

LA Times  

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike warms up before a game against the Dallas Wings at L.A. Convention Center on May 14. Then came USA Basketball’s controversial decision to keep Ogwumike off the Olympic roster despite earning most valuable player of the 2019 qualifying tournament. “I’ve always been described as resilient,” Ogwumike said, “and I think I had to kind of tell …

Two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike re-signs with the Sparks
3 years, 10 months ago

Two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike re-signs with the Sparks

LA Times  

Chiney Ogwumike, a two-time WNBA All-Star and former No. I’m really grateful to be a part of an organization that works with me to change the game on and off the court.” With Ogwumike set to return, the Sparks will shift their focus on signing her older sister, Nneka Ogwumike, who remains a free agent. With the Sparks having lost …

Report: Candace Parker leaving Sparks to join Chicago Sky
3 years, 10 months ago

Report: Candace Parker leaving Sparks to join Chicago Sky

LA Times  

Candace Parker, the Sparks star and reigning WNBA defensive player of the year, has agreed to play with the Chicago Sky, according to reports from multiple media outlets, ending a 13-year career with the Sparks that started when Parker was the No. The 34-year-old forward was one of several free-agent priorities for the Sparks and head coach Derek Fisher, who …

Sparks star Chiney Ogwumike didn’t need basketball to make the most of 2020
3 years, 11 months ago

Sparks star Chiney Ogwumike didn’t need basketball to make the most of 2020

LA Times  

Sparks star Chiney Ogwumike poses for a photo in front of a mural on 3rd Street honoring the Lakers and Dodgers titles. “Thank you,” he wrote, retweeting a photo Ogwumike had posted of herself and older sister Nneka outside the Toyota Center, where they’d worked as election clerks. “I feel like I’m fortunate that this year there’s been a light …

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