", Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. Ogwumike has averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during her career with the Sparks. But the timing was strategic, as she has worked with Sparks general manager Karen Bryant, assistant GM Eli Horowitz and coach Curt Miller on a new direction for the Sparks, plus maintained flexibility because of the salary cap. All 144 players of . Ogwumike became a partner in the Sparks rebuilding process as she, Bryant and Miller shared their visions for the franchise. Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka" Ogwumike // (/ n k o w u m k e /; born July 2, 1990) is a Nigerian-American basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), after being drafted No. Experts Urge Consumers To Start Saving Now. This new deal puts Nneka Ogwumike among the highest-paid WNBA players, but still a little short of the top earners. She was instrumental in negotiating for the ground-breaking 2020 collective bargaining agreement that saw major pay . WNBA players push to add charter flights is getting amplified by Brittney Griners inability to take commercial flights after her Russian detention. Thats why it meant so much that new Sparks general manager Karen Bryant and new coach Curt Miller made the trip to meet with Ogwumike in Texas during this critical offseason. It's considerably less than the supermax of $234,936, but it was something Ogwumike was willing to do to help the Sparks juggle salary cap issues. Nneka Ogwumike. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. The Latest from our Partners. I'm grateful to be surrounded by both players, coaches and staff that have a greater vision for the organization. The latest free agent signing for the Los Angeles Sparks is also the biggest. WNBA power forward who was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year with the L.A. Sparks in 2012. Were thrilled to continue our partnership with her as she continues adding to her storied legacy., Nneka is an extraordinary person and teammate, Sparks head coach Curt Miller added. Her mother's name is Ify Ogwumike and her father's name is Peter . Stanford forward Nneka Ogwumike embraces women's head basketball coach Tara VanDerveer after a 59-47 loss to Baylor an NCAA women's Final Four semifinal game in Denver on April 1, 2012. But my approach is, who wants to play here? Ogwumike said. Adidas partners Candace Parker, Layshia Clarendon, Nneka Ogwumike and Natalie Achonwa join Arielle Chambers for a discussion around adidas NIL. There's cohesiveness we hope to build and I have other partners in crime in the front court in Kristine [Anigwe] and Seimone [Augustus]. Finding Mastery 263 February 10, 2021. And it wasnt just about playing tour guide to Sparks executives. Listen on Apple , Spotify or here The new deal, agreed to in January, boosted player salaries - by more than 80 percent for the WNBA's . Pepsi Stronger Together, WNBPA and Nneka Ogwumike Present Check to Girls on the Run LA. 1 spot in Daily Breezes first baseball Top 10, Longshore union, shippers offer rate update on labor talks, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, As many as 700,000 Illinois residents could lose Medicaid health coverage this year, Balloon ban made official in Laguna Beach, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. "It's really unfortunate, and a coincidence that this has all happened, but it might help what we are trying to do," Nneka said. Experts Urge Consumers To Start Saving Now, Turn Your Home Equity Into Cash Before a Recession, Grow Your Money Faster With These Savings Accounts. Her hard work did pay off when she stole all the spotlights through her wins, all at the age of 28. The 2016 league MVP has played all 11 of her seasons in the WNBA with the Sparks. When is Nneka Ogwumikes birthday? The WNBA superstar previously won MVP of the qualifying tournament and led team scoring in 2020. "Each of us have something we are good at, that we take for granted, but we can use it to benefit somebody else. Sparks re-sign Nneka Ogwumike, their top, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Sparks re-sign Nneka Ogwumike, their top free agency priority, Nneka Ogwumike wants Sparks to be more than a basketball team, Sparks Chiney Ogwumike able to be my best self now, Chiney Ogwumike re-signs with Sparks; two-time All-Star reunited with Coach Curt Miller, Sparks sign veteran guard Yang Liwei from China, Azur Stevens excited for expanded role with new-look Sparks. Ogwumike said she would love to be with the Sparks in 2023 and that the 2022 season in which the Sparks went 13-21, general manager and coach Derek Fisher was removed from his positions mid-season and Liz Cambage departed the team mid-season was like living in a house you didnt build. Feb 1, 2023. Per team policy, the terms of the agreement were not released. Verified. The former WNBA MVP re-signed with the Sparks last week, continuing her career with the franchise that drafted her No. Ogwumike averaged 18.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals last season, earning second-team All-WNBA honors and a seventh All-Star appearance. Nneka Ogwumike is an American professional basketball player who has represented the Los Angeles Sparks (2012-Present), as a power forward, in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Lets take a look at Nneka Ogwumike past relationships, ex-boyfriends and previous hookups. That's where the Ogwumike sisters, two of the most prominent Nigerian-American athletes in the United States, will be focusing their energies. "I feel really good with where I'm at and how I'm progressing as an athlete. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Sparks signed free agents Azur Stevens, Talbot and Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka's sister. Her work ethic and dedication to her craft is exceptional.. She told them, "wherever you need my number to be to get who we need to get, lets just do that.. Ogwumike, 32, also serves as president of the WNBPA, representing the leagues 144 players in contract negotiations, grievances, and social actions. Perspective by Kevin B. Blackistone. The Sparks star forward, who was drafted by the franchise in 2012 after four years at Stanford, is so entrenched in California that she says some might forget her Lone Star State roots. Ogwumike was named to her sixth All-Star . She helped bring in free agents Azur Stevens and Stephanie Talbot from the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm, respectively. 167k Followers, 1,928 Following, 437 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Nneka Ogwumike (@nnekaogwumike) nnekaogwumike. ", Smith: Ogwumikes partner with UNICEF to aid Nigeria, WNBA mock draft: Villanova's Siegrist soars into lottery pick, Serena, Griner honored at NAACP Image Awards, Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. Nneka Ogwumike has been not just a pivotal figure for the Sparks, but also for the WNBA as president of the players' union executive committee. I want to be able to win and do that with some great people. However, she has done very well for herself over the course of her career. Fun Fact: On the day of Nneka Ogwumikes birth, "Step by Step" by New Kids On The Block was the number 1 song on The Billboard Hot 100 and George H. W. Bush (Republican) was the U.S. President. Be the first one to comment on this story. They officially added Dearica Hamby, Lexie Brown, Stephanie Talbot and Jasmine Thomas to a roster that had only guard Chennedy Carter, forward Katie Lou Samuelson and wing Rae Burrell on it entering the offseason. Her one-year deal is worth $169,500, according to a person with knowledge of the team not authorized to speak publicly, a pay cut and far less than the supermax of $234,936. She holds career . Vandersloot to New York, the rise of superteams and a Liberty-Aces WNBA Finals? Nneka Ogwumike not only wants to make the Los Angeles Sparks a championship contender again, but also to get the community excited about womens basketball and other sports. She has not been previously engaged. But I think with this group, I have family and so I think its the best environment to feel myself and be back to being productive in the way that I can be.. Ogwumike also cemented her legacy in Los Angeles last season by eclipsing 5,000 career points, joining Sparks legends Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker as the only players in franchise history to do so. Ogwumike wants sustained winning that inspires people in the community to get excited about basketball and womens sports. Chris Paul has been given a lot of credit for helping the NBA devise its plan to resume the 2019-20 season, but Nneka Ogwumike the President of the WNBA Players Association doesn't seem to be too happy with him.. Aside from being Paul's counterpart, Ogwumike is one of basketball's most decorated superstars. Wearing her workout gear fresh off a training session, Chiney was adamant that she still has something to prove on the court. We care about girls' dreams and ambitions no matter where they live.". They also made a trade with the Las Vegas Aces for Hamby and a 2024 first-round pick. San Pedros Fish Market on fast track for long-term temporary West Harbor spot, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton will headline Coastal Country Jam in Long Beach, 40 ghost guns seized, 18 arrested in probe that focused on Wilmington gang, DA Gascn suspends attorney who prosecuted transgender child molester, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Some California cities cant stop apartment projects as developers use builders remedy, Killer keto? And it wasnt just about playing tour guide to Sparks executives. She has the combination of the focus and work ethic and discipline and the fortitude, Bryant said. Were thrilled to continue our partnership with her as she continues adding to her storied legacy., (Photo: Jevone Moore / Icon Sportswire vis AP Images). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. But again, eye in 23, but beyond. That's the storyline here that we are truly passionate about. I started in Los Angeles as a wide-eyed rookie hopeful to last and to lead in a city and with a franchise defined by its legends and legacy, Ogwumike said via a press release. The former MVP made that statement official Friday by re-signing with the Sparks as an unrestricted free agent. After she was designated as a core player by the Sparks in recent years, meaning she could not negotiate with teams in free agency, Ogwumike wanted the experience of being an unrestricted free agent and be courted by teams. They are known as confident, entitled, and depressed. But I think with this group, I have family and so I think its the best environment to feel myself and be back to being productive in the way that I can be.. Ogwumike Adds Fifth All-WNBA Selection to List of Accolades. She was born on Monday, July 2, 1990. As a former MVP and champion, Nneka is on that list. All four Ogwumike sisters -- younger siblings Olivia and Erica have also been staples on AAU teams in Texas -- know this world well. She was a pioneer in women's basketball who served the game with generosity, passion, & grace. On Wednesday morning, they rolled out the details of their relationship with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. The former WNBA MVP re-signed with the Sparks last week, continuing her career with the franchise that drafted her No. Forward Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 league MVP who has spent her 11-year WNBA career with the Sparks since being drafted . She took a different strategy with the Sparks. The Los Angeles Sparks star has served as WNBPA President since 2016, first winning re-election in 2019. Nneka Ogwumike, who was still out with a knee sprain when the selection of U.S.A. Basketball's team was announced, is the only winner of the W.N.B.A.'s Most Valuable Player Award who has not . Ogwumike became a partner in the Sparks rebuilding process as she, Bryant and Miller shared their visions for the franchise. In 2020, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for ESPN.She was one of the first and youngest commentators ever to be named an NBA analyst for the network . "Students and teachers have been the targets of violence since 2012, resulting in parents being unwilling to send their children to school. They already have the lowest enrollment rate to start, and we work to change that and parents start sending their kids to school and look what happens. Ogwumike was picked first overall in the 2014 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. But there has been no rescue operation, no triumphant, tearful return of these girls to their families, no proof to the world yet that targeting girls whose only crime was getting an education is unacceptable and intolerable. 4 among. #BringBackOurGirls has not brought the girls back, but Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike have partnered with UNICEF in a fundraising effort aimed to benefit one million girls in northern Nigeria. Ogwumike, who is President of the WNBA Players Union, loved seeing the headlines about free agents signing in New York and Las Vegas this offseason. She was elected a WNBA All-Star along with her sister Nneka Ogwumike, becoming the first pair of sisters to be selected into a WNBA All-Star game. "We are trying to reach out to girls who care about basketball, and about other girls. "We've always been impressed in the way that UNICEF has incorporated athletes into some really powerful efforts.". Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA MVP who was left off the U.S. Olympic women's basketball roster, wants to play for her parents' birth nation of Nigeria at the Tokyo Games. Yet the Sparks have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since Ogwumike lost longtime co-star Candace Parker. Millers arrival in L.A. felt like a sign to Nneka that the Sparks were back. Ogwumike not only will remain in L.A., but she will do so with her younger sister Chiney, who re-signed with the team Tuesday. We hope people will make it a fun competition.". Nnemkadi "Nneka" Ogwumike is an American basketball player of Nigerian descent for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, after being drafted #1 overall. Chiney said the AAU experience helped to define her in many ways, from her goals to her work ethic to her sense of community. That drafted her No forward nneka ogwumike partner was named the WNBA Rookie of the qualifying tournament and team. 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