Los Angeles Sparks veteran Nneka Ogwumike sent shockwaves through the basketball world after announcing her retirement from the WNBA. “I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I’ve been able to play and compete at such a high level,” she said during her exclusive conversation with Boardroom’s Taylor Rooks. Yet while the announcement marks the end of an extraordinary WNBA chapter, her basketball journey may not be over just yet.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
From earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 to winning the MVP in 2016 and playing a crucial role in the March 2026 CBA negotiations that saw the salary cap increase from $1.5 million to $7 million, the more you talk about Ogwumike’s impact, the harder it becomes to sum it all up. Her fellow players appeared to understand that as they took to social media, reflecting on what she has meant to the league while reacting to the news of her impending retirement.
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers was among those who shared the clip uploaded by Boardroom on her Instagram Stories. Even WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert took a moment to reflect on everything Nneka Ogwumike accomplished during her time in the league.
“Nneka will retire at the end of this season, leaving the WNBA much better than she found it — a testament not only to the player she has been, but to the person and leader she is. I have been fortunate to work closely with Nneka over the years and have been inspired by her passion and unwavering commitment to the players. It has been a privilege to watch her remarkable journey, and while there is still more basketball to be played this season, we congratulate her on an extraordinary career and look forward to celebrating her in the months ahead,” Engelbert said in a league statement, as reported by Geoff Magliocchetti.
The Los Angeles Sparks currently sit near the bottom of the WNBA standings with just 12 wins and 23 losses. Ogwumike, however, continues to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Yet with only nine regular-season games remaining and the Sparks set to play their final game on September 24 against the Golden State Valkyries, Nneka Ogwumike’s final season appears unlikely to end with the kind of playoff run she would have hoped for.
However, while her WNBA career might be coming to an end, Ogwumike is not done playing basketball.
According to Alexa Philippou, Ogwumike – who was one of the first players to sign on with Project B, the global startup professional league set to launch in 2027 – still intends to take the court in the new league.
Now, that may offer some consolation to fans, but for her peers, the reality of seeing Ogwumike leave the league is still an emotional one.
“💐💐💐,” Arike Ogunbowale wrote in the comments of the video shared by Boardroom. “Love you sooo much ❤️❤️❤️,” Cameron Brink added, while Angel Reese, too, couldn’t hide her emotions: “🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺”
Nneka Ogwumike may be closing the door on her 15-season-long career, but her next chapter is already taking shape. With Project B waiting on the other side, her retirement announcement may be less of a goodbye to basketball and more of a transition into a new stage of her remarkable career.