Nneka Ogwumike

The 2016 WNBA MVP and WNBA Champion, Nneka Ogwumike was selected 1st overall to the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2012 WNBA Draft. A proud first generation Nigerian-American and Texas native, Nneka is regarded as the ultimate role model and is an advocate for equality, opportunity, women’s empowerment, and health and wellness. She is currently serving as President of the WNBA Players’ Association (WNBPA) and successfully led the group in its renegotiation of a groundbreaking WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2020. Nneka is an 9x WNBA All-Star, 5x All-WNBA selection, five-time All-Defensive WNBA selection, and was the 2012 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Regarded as an athletic, versatile, and consistent performer, Nneka has excelled both domestically and internationally, winning a Euroleague Title with Dynamo Kursk (Russia), a WCBA Championship in China with Guangdong, and a Polish League Championship for CCC Polkowice. She also was a member of Team USA’s gold medal 2018 FIBA World Championship squad.

A graduate of Stanford University with a BA in psychology, Nneka led the school to four consecutive Final Four appearances. The 3x Wade Trophy, Wooden Award finalist and former Pac-10 Player of the Year earned a gold medal with the USA Basketball World University Games team in 2011.

Hailing from one of sport’s most dynamic families, Nneka is the oldest of four sisters who have played Division I basketball. With her sister Chiney’s selection as the 1st overall pick by the Connecticut Sun in the 2014 WNBA Draft, the family made history, joining Peyton and Eli Manning as the only siblings ever selected number one overall in a professional sports league. Nneka now plays for the Seattle Storm.