Nneka Ogwumike’s success is no secret
Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike embracing her teammates during the starting lineup introduction at Climate Pledge Arena on June 11th, 2024. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo)
By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - If there was ever a model of consistency for young athletes to adhere to, perennial All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike would be the standard.
As a state champion in her senior year out of Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas, Ogwumike’s winning ways followed her to the Stanford women’s basketball program where she helped the Cardinal reach the Final Four four times.
During her legendary tenure in Palo Alto, she was a three-time All-American and two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year.
Nneka Ogwumike with her sister and teammate, Chiney, alongside head coach Tara VanDerveer after receiving their All-American awards in 2012. (Photo by Stanford Athletics)
Selected with the first overall pick in 2012 by the Los Angeles Sparks, Ogwumike received Rookie of the Year honors, winning over 90 percent of the vote. An All-Star in eight of her 11 seasons in Los Angeles, she won the WNBA MVP award and a championship in 2016, becoming just the seventh player in league history to achieve this feat then.
Needless to say, wherever the journey of basketball has taken her, efficiency and winning are never far too behind. The trend has continued in 2024 with the Seattle Storm in a myriad of ways, starting with double-doubles.
In the 89-77 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday, Ogwumike collected her fifth double-double of the season and 105th of her career, placing her fifth all-time in WNBA history. While praising her teammates, Ogwumike wasn’t aware of her achievement.
“No, I didn’t, but thank you,” she told Circling Seattle Sports.
There aren’t many professional athletes who boast a track record of longevity like the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. When asked what her secret to success is, she made it clear that it’s the exact opposite.
“It’s not really a secret, you know?” she continued. Just being disciplined…honestly, just having an expansive mentality. Throughout my career, I fought with doubting if I was capable. I’ve had a lot of vets, teammates, and coaches that have dissembled that, so I know what I’m capable of.”
Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike casting a shadow over the Sue Bird silhouette on June 11th at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo)
From legends in Candace Parker, Chelsea Gray, Kristi Tolliver, and a host of others, the beginning of Ogwumike’s career was ushered in with various levels of experience — on and off the court — that helped mold and breathe life into her confidence.
“I know that I’m out here for a reason and my goal is to be great and make my teammates great. That’s just how I always play. At this point, I say all the time that efficiency is my thing. I try my best to be an efficient player on both ends of the court so that I’m not a liability to my teammates.”
At one point this season, Ogwumike led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging over 20 and 10 per outing on an uber-efficient 61 percent clip, which led the league. To date, she’s at 17.7 points on 55 percent shooting, not to mention 78 percent at the rim, along with 7.6 rebounds and a career-high 2.1 steals.
As expected when she signed on with Seattle in the offseason, she has been paramount in all facets of the Storm’s approach to winning games.
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