Nneka Ogwumike facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nneka Ogwumike

Ogwumike with the Seattle Storm in 2024
No. 3 – Seattle Storm
Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1990-07-02) July 2, 1990 (age 34) Tomball, Texas, U.S.
High school	Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas)
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College	Stanford (2008–2012)
NBA Draft	2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks
Pro career	2012–present
League	WNBA
Career history
2012–2023	Los Angeles Sparks
2012–2013	CCC Polkowice
2013–2014	Guangdong Vermilion Birds
2014–2018	Dynamo Kursk
2019	Guangdong Vermilion Birds
2024–present	Seattle Storm
Career highlights and awards
WNBA champion (2016) WNBA MVP (2016) WNBA Rookie of the Year (2012) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2012) 9× WNBA All-Star (2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2022–2024) All-WNBA First Team (2016) 6× All-WNBA Second Team (2014, 2017, 2019, 2022-2024) 4× WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2015–2017, 2019) 3× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018, 2023, 2024) 3× Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (2019–2021) WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021) EuroLeague champion (2017) Polish National League champion (2013) Senior CLASS Award (2012) First-team All-American – AP (2012) WBCA Coaches' All-American (2012) 2x State Farm All-American (2010, 2011) 3x All-American – USBWA (2010–2012) 2x Pac-12 Player of the Year (2010, 2012) 2x Second-team All-American – AP (2010, 2011) Pac-12 Tournament MOP (2010–2012) 3x All-Pac 12 (2010–2012) Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2009) McDonald's All-American (2008)
Medals Representing  United States World Cup Gold 2014 Turkey Gold 2018 Spain Universiade Gold 2011 Shenzhen Team U19 World Championship Gold 2009 Bangkok

Nneka Ogwumike is a talented American professional basketball player. She plays for the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was the very first player chosen in the 2012 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

Nneka played for the Sparks for 12 seasons. She was named the WNBA MVP in 2016. In the same year, she helped her team win the WNBA Finals. In 2021, she was honored as one of the top 25 players in the WNBA's first 25 years.

Her first name, "Nneka," means "Mother is Supreme." This comes from the Igbo language in Nigeria, where her family is from. Nneka's younger sister, Chiney Ogwumike, is also a professional basketball player.

Nneka went to Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas. She led her high school team to a state championship. At Stanford University, she helped her college team reach the Final Four four times. Nneka has also been the President of the Women's National Basketball Players Association.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Nneka Ogwumike was a top high school basketball player. She was named a WBCA All-American. In 2008, she played in the WBCA High School All-America Game. She scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. She was even named the MVP for her team in that game.

During her senior year at Cy-Fair High School, she averaged 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. She also had 2.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.

College Basketball Career

Ogwumike playing basketball at Stanford University

Nneka chose to play college basketball at Stanford University. She picked Stanford over other big schools like Baylor and Duke. While at Stanford, she also played alongside her sister, Chiney Ogwumike.

In 2010, Nneka set a new record for Stanford. She grabbed 23 rebounds in one game against Oregon. This was the most rebounds ever by a Cardinal player.

In 2011, she scored a career-high 42 points against the Tennessee Lady Vols. She made 19 of 27 shots and also had 17 rebounds. In 2012, she reached two big milestones. She passed both 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

Nneka finished her college career as the second-highest scorer in Stanford women's basketball history. Only Candice Wiggins scored more points.

Playing for Team USA

Nneka Ogwumike has won several gold medals playing for the USA national team.

She was part of the USA Women's U18 team in 2008. They won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina. Nneka started all five games and led her team in scoring and rebounding. She had 15 rebounds in the final game, which was a U18 record.

In 2009, she played for the USA Women's U19 team. They won the gold medal at the U19 World's Championship in Thailand. Nneka was the team's top scorer and rebounder. She was also named to the all-tournament team.

Nneka also played for Team USA at the 2011 World University Games in China. She won a gold medal there with her sister, Chiney. In 2014, she helped Team USA win another gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women. They beat Spain in the final game.

WNBA Professional Career

Ogwumike playing in 2018

Los Angeles Sparks (2012–2023)

On April 16, 2012, the Los Angeles Sparks chose Nneka Ogwumike as the first overall pick in the 2012 WNBA draft. She was the second player from her high school to be drafted first overall into the WNBA.

In her first season, Nneka set a career-high with 20 rebounds in a game. She also scored 22 points in that win. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Month four times. On October 7, 2012, Nneka was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year.

In 2014, Nneka was voted a WNBA All-Star for the second time. Her sister, Chiney, was also selected. They became the first sisters to play in a WNBA All-Star game together.

In 2016, Nneka had an amazing season. She was named the WNBA MVP. She finished third in the league in scoring (19.7 points per game) and rebounding (9.1 rebounds per game). She also led the league in field goal percentage. Nneka set a WNBA record by making 23 shots in a row over three games. She also scored 32 points without missing a shot in one game. On June 30, 2016, she scored a career-high 38 points.

With Nneka leading the way, the Sparks had a great record of 26 wins and 8 losses. They reached the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2003. The Sparks won the championship in a tough five-game series against the Minnesota Lynx. Nneka won her first WNBA championship. She made the game-winning shot in Game 5 with only 3 seconds left. She became one of only seven players to win both the MVP award and a championship in the same season.

In 2017, Nneka was voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game again. She led the Sparks in scoring for the second year in a row. The Sparks reached the WNBA Finals again, but they lost to the Minnesota Lynx.

Ogwumike (right) playing defense in a 2021 WNBA game.

In 2018, Nneka was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game. The Sparks made it to the playoffs but lost in the second round. In 2019, Nneka had a season-high 31 points in a game. She was voted into her sixth All-Star game. The Sparks reached the semi-finals but were eliminated by the Connecticut Sun.

The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nneka played 18 games and the Sparks made the playoffs. However, they were eliminated again by the Connecticut Sun.

In 2021, the WNBA celebrated its 25th anniversary. Nneka was named one of the top 25 players in league history. She also won the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award for the third year in a row.

Ogwumike with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023

Seattle Storm (2024–present)

On February 5, 2024, Nneka Ogwumike signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Storm.

Playing Overseas

During the WNBA off-seasons, Nneka has also played basketball in other countries.

• In 2012–13, she played in Poland for CCC Polkowice and won a championship.
• In 2013–2014 and 2019, she played in China for Guangdong Vermilion Birds.
• From 2014–2018, she played in Russia for Dynamo Kursk. She won the EuroLeague championship with them in 2017.

Personal Life

Nneka Ogwumike is Catholic. In August 2024, she took over leading a group called More Than a Vote. This group was started by LeBron James to encourage people to vote. Nneka has brought in other female athletes to join. She wants the group to focus on women's rights for the 2024 election.

Career Statistics

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 season

Playoffs

College

Awards and Honors

See also

In Spanish: Nneka Ogwumike para niños