This is Year 13 for Nneka Ogwumike, but in many ways, it’s Year 1.
This is the first time in her career that she isn’t a Los Angeles Spark, as she decided to leave in free agency and join the Seattle Storm. The move has worked wonders for Ogwumike. Her new team is currently in the top four in the league, while her previous one is in a full rebuilding phase and struggling to win.
On the court, Ogwumike has stayed elite, averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She can still get to her spots on the floor and is shooting 56.8 percent from the field—her third-best field goal percentage of her career and her best since 2020. From 3-point range, Ogwumike has also kept her attempts up at 1.6 per game and is executing at a 38 percent clip. With her continuing improvement from beyond the arc and staying elite near the rim, she’s been able to evolve with the league and maintain a case as one of the best bigs in the WNBA.
So many factors are involved in becoming an All-Star, from popularity to longevity to production. Ogwumike is a perfect candidate for all these factors. She’s one of the most well-known faces in the WNBA who has the consistency and track record, and this year, she wouldn’t just be a legacy vote-getter; her numbers stack up well against the…
