Nneka Ogwumike is staying in the chair. The LA Sparks forward has been re-elected as WNBPA President for a fourth consecutive term, as per NY Post reporter Madeline Kenney. And she wasted no time signaling what she intends to do with it.

“Together, we’ve built one of the most influential unions in sports and we’re just getting started,” Ogwumike said, as per The Sporting Tribune. “As I begin my fourth term as President and as we enter this historic new chapter under our transformational CBA, I am energized to continue fighting for the players, advancing our collective vision, and ensuring that the generations who follow us inherit an even stronger league and union than the one we have today.”

Ogwumike’s fourth term will run for three years. The players who granted her that mandate have seen what her leadership produces and the case is easy to make. Since first being elected in 2016, Ogwumike has shepherded the union through two rounds of CBA negotiations, both of which produced meaningful gains.

The first CBA negotiation secured a full charter flight program for players, a quality-of-life shift that had been a long-standing player demand. The second, which was ratified earlier this year following more than 100 hours of face-to-face bargaining, went further still.

The new CBA introduced a landmark salary structure. For the first time in women’s professional sports history, this was a comprehensive revenue-sharing model. Players will receive roughly 20% of gross revenue over the life of the deal, with the salary cap rising from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026. Minimum salaries have climbed approximately from $66,000 range to a range of $270,000 to $300,000. These changes represent a structural shift in how the league values its players which very well happened under Ogwumike’s watch.

Stepping into the role of First Vice-President alongside her will be Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. This will be the first time she will serve in this specific position. Collier replaces Kelsey Plum, who chose not to run for re-election. In a statement following her election, Collier made clear she understood the weight of the role.

“I believe in the power of collective leadership and the responsibility we have to advocate for every player in our league,” Collier said, as per The Sporting Tribune. “The WNBPA has played a critical role in advancing player rights, improving working conditions, and strengthening the future of women’s basketball. And I would be honored to help continue that work.”

Besides her achievements as a leader, Ogwumike is perfectly suited for leading such a prominent players’ union. Her poise, resilience, and ability to not fold under pressure make her an unquestionable candidate for the seat. And the players’ decisions in the executive committee elections echo the same.

Notably, these aren’t the only indicators that Nneka Ogwumike is a strong leader. Because one of her known allies at the LA Sparks has also doubled down on Ogwumike’s leadership prowess.

Lynne Roberts Explains Nneka Ogwumike’s Prodigy as a Leader

What makes the players’ confidence in Ogwumike instructive is that it reflects something visible on the court as well. Lynne Roberts, speaking to journalist David Mendez-Yapkowitz of ClutchPoints, offered a precise account of what that looks like up close.

“Nneka is just an absolute vet that knows what’s needed, and what’s not,” Roberts said, as per user Rey-Rey on X. “And I think she understands that with Kelsey Plum out, the onus of being the key guy falls on her. And that’s not something she takes lightly or is dramatic about, but she knows it. She just has a way about her that brings calm to everybody but is just a fierce competitor.”

Roberts’ assessment is purely from an on-court perspective which definitely makes sense. In the last two games, where Sparks’ go-to scorer Kelsey Plum has been absent, Ogwumike has stepped up. She has scored 20+ points in back-to-back games for her team. It is the same calm competence Roberts is describing — Someone who identifies what a situation requires and delivers it without spectacle.

That quality, carried across a decade of union leadership, is what the WNBPA just voted to retain for another three years.