Ogwumike to retire from WNBA after 2026 season, plans Project B debut
The Los Angeles Sparks forward and WNBPA president will conclude her 15-year career in September before joining the new professional league launching in 2027.
Nneka Ogwumike has announced she will retire from the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) at the conclusion of the 2026 season, ending a 15-year professional career. The 36-year-old forward, who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, will play her final WNBA game at home against the Valkyries on 24 September.
Ogwumike’s departure marks the end of an era for the league, in which she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft. She won the Rookie of the Year award in her first season and later claimed a championship and MVP honour with the Sparks in 2016. Her statistical legacy is significant, with the player ranking fourth on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list with 7,879 points, third in rebounds with 3,565, and seventh in steals with 707.
Beyond her on-court achievements, Ogwumike has been a central figure in the league’s institutional development. She has served as president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) since 2016, a role in which she was recently re-elected. Under her leadership, the union negotiated a collective bargaining agreement signed in March 2026 that increased the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million.
For the 2026 season, Ogwumike signed a one-year, $950,000 contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, returning to the franchise after spending the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Seattle Storm. Despite the Sparks’ 12-23 record and elimination from postseason contention, she has maintained strong performance figures, averaging 16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.
While her WNBA career is concluding, Ogwumike’s involvement in professional basketball is not. She is set to participate in the inaugural season of Project B, a new global professional league scheduled to launch in January 2027. Ogwumike holds an ownership stake in the venture, a factor she highlighted during a panel at All-Star weekend, citing the league’s focus on player autonomy and resources.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged Ogwumike’s dual impact as a player and leader in a statement, noting that her career has been defined by excellence and the way she has led those around her. Engelbert stated that Ogwumike leaves the WNBA "much better than she found it," a testament to her commitment to the players and the game.
