One of the greatest careers in WNBA history will come to an end next month, like Nneka Ogwumike announced her retirement out of the league after the 2026 season.
Ogwumike is probably best known for her tenure as president of the WNBPA, a role she has held for a decade, and for good reason. In that position, Ogwumike presided over the execution of two landmark collective bargaining agreements, the most recent of which introduced revenue sharing to the WNBA, along with huge gains in compensation and player experience.
Sometimes I wonder if we overlook the basketball component of Ogwumike’s legacy. She is fourth all-time in points, third in rebounds and fifth in steals. She is a former MVP and champion who put together the most efficient season in WNBA history in 2016. She is also second all-time in wins; that doesn’t necessarily mean Ogwumike is the second best player ever, but she’s a lot closer than most would think.
Ogwumike is the epitome of consistency, an All-Star every year she’s been eligible (the league only recently began naming All-Stars in Olympic years) except for 2021, when she suffered an untimely injury. She received nine MVP votes and finished sixth just last season.
The list of players with career averages that exceed Ogwumike’s 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds includes Lisa Leslie, Chamique Holdsclaw, Lauren Jackson, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier. Ogwumike’s field goal percentage is the highest in the group.
Perhaps the general malaise surrounding the Los Angeles Sparks, where Ogwumike has spent most of her career, has obscured her day-to-day greatness. There will be no more wins in her book or another postseason appearance.
But Ogwumike can go out on a high individually, and with an end date set for her WNBA career, fans know exactly how long they have to see her. It’s worth remembering how much there is to celebrate.
After announcing her retirement, Nneka Ogwumike should be recognized for her contribution to the game. (Luiza Moraes / Getty Images)
In trend
Dallas Wings
Rumors of Dallas’ death (in my opinion, I take full blame) have been greatly exaggerated. The Wings responded to news of Azzie Fudd’s season-ending surgery with their best win in months over the Fever and another dominant performance against Seattle.
The Dallas coaching staff elected to put Awak Kuier over Fudd in the starting lineup, and Kuier’s athleticism on the wing was a necessary jolt. She can guard players on the perimeter, something Caitlin Clarke learned very well in their matchup, and she’s also a good driver, making her an offensive threat.
The wings don’t necessarily need Kuier to be a scoring option with Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepard already in the top five, but she needs to make defenders pay for giving up on her, which they never would have done with Fudd.
The real boon of this new lineup is that Dallas has two legitimate rim protectors on the floor. After allowing open lanes to the basket for most of the season, the duo of Alanna Smith and Kuier is actually terrifying on the defensive end. Smith is a more traditional paint guard who guards his assignment while Kuier excels at rotating in help. She had seven blocks in the win over Indiana.
Awak Kuier strengthened the squad
Sabreena Merchant
Seeing Kuier in three positions reminded him of how New York gives opponents when Leonie Fiebich is available to play on the wing. That combination of length and defensive acumen on the perimeter is rare; that’s what makes the Liberty a contender, and the Wings hope it can do the same for them.
Atlanta Dream
It’s a long WNBA season, and Angel Reese showed she has a short memory after the Dream’s heaviest loss of the year against Indiana. She had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 15-point win over Las Vegas, limiting A’ja Wilson to 7-of-18 shooting and five turnovers. Reese followed that up with a perfect game in the loss to the Sparks, going 9-of-9 from the floor (including two 3-pointers) with 10 rebounds and eight assists. Two days later, she was even more dominant with 31 points, 14 rebounds and four steals against Phoenix.
Angel Reese is back
Reese, who was fact-checked by Ogwumike in his retirement interview, said what he hopes to take from the veteran game is consistency. This season will be her first appearance in the playoffs, and she reiterated how focused she is on not having a playoff and making the most of every possession, both in the postseason race and in the games themselves next month.
Reese is the leader of the Dream, especially with Brionna Jones out and no news on her return. Reese sets the tone with his effort and intensity in the paint; she is the catalyst for Atlanta’s league-leading offensive rebounding and second-best defensive rebounding. Her motor is contagious on the court, especially alongside more consistent stars on the perimeter in Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. This is the best Reese has looked in a dream jersey, and it’s no coincidence that Atlanta moved up in the standings as a result.
Trending down
Golden State Valkyries
Golden State’s starting lineup had a rough week. He shot a collective 30.2 percent from the field and was better in three games against Dallas, Minnesota and Chicago (though one of those was a win). The ball wasn’t moving, the Valkyries weren’t pressuring the paint and the necessary level of strength in defense was missing. Coach Natalie Nakase rode the bench for much of the second half against Sky, which worked until Sydney Taylor made sure it didn’t.
The Valkyries have talented bench performers like Janelle Salaün, Tiffany Hayes (who has been absolutely heating up) and Kaitlyn Chen, but they can’t afford to dig holes against top teams like Minnesota. Nakase is so quick to pull off Kiah Stokes that one wonders if Salaün should start at all; even if Stokes has been an elite rim protector, teams are finally targeting her on the other end, forcing Golden State to play four-on-five on offense. Gabby Williams has had some of her worst games of late – a negative assist-to-turnover ratio in particular – despite a pre-World Cup rest plan, and figures to be more worn out after the tournament as France rely heavily on her.
Valkyries have always succeeded by making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. When it works, which it did just Monday against the Wings, it seems like opponents are fighting endless waves of energy. When it doesn’t — which is rare, we’re talking about a team with the second-best record in the WNBA — the absence of a leading scorer is felt keenly.
Rookie of the week
Mai Yamamoto, Las Vegas Aces
(Reminder: This isn’t the best rookie of the week, but a player that caught my eye.)
The midseason addition has turned into one of Aces coach Becky Hammon’s most trusted players. When Yamamoto enters the game, the Aces can be sure to push the pace, move the ball, shoot without hesitation and fight on defense. Since getting her first extended run during the Liberty game when Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young sat out, Yamamoto is averaging 16.5 minutes and making more than 40 percent of her 3-pointers. Las Vegas has a positive net rating with her on the field (plus-1.9 entering Sunday’s game), and that’s all the Aces need from their bench players to support their big three.
Fan favorite Mai Yamamoto does a post-game interview and her ace teammates are all ears 😭🖤 pic.twitter.com/3Uykhcwazn
— tay 𑣲. (@zavanchy) August 21, 2026
Yamamoto’s teammates and Las Vegas fans took to her immediately — just look at how everyone mimics her release when she jumps. It is not news that she earned the love and respect of everyone around her. As a point guard, Yamamoto needs her teammates to line up, and that’s part of the process, especially since she’s only nine games into her aces.
Las Vegas has been without Dana Evans for most of the season, and NaLyssa Smith appeared to suffer a serious injury in Sunday’s win over Toronto. Hammon has never gone to her bench as much as other WNBA coaches, but the Aces will need more from the rest of the roster now. Jewell Loyd will have to slide into the forward position more often, leaving more ball handling and creation responsibilities for Yamamoto. She’s been fearless so far, but this is just an appetizer for Las Vegas’ postseason run.
Play in a circle
Valkyries at Liberty, 8:00 PM (ET) Thursday, Prime Video
Any game between playoff teams has huge ramifications for the seed at this point in the season. Golden State has a tenuous grip on the No. 2 seed, while New York is trending and has a chance to crack the top four. The matchup between these two teams – aside from being among the most aesthetically pleasing when wearing seafoam and purple – is interesting as the Valkyries have enough wingspan to counter Liberty’s size and length.
Golden State is 2-0 in the season series, and one of those wins came when Sabrina Ionescu and Fiebich were both available for New York. The Liberty looked about as good as they have all season Saturday in a win over Indiana, and will have a significant advantage heading into this game. (New York doesn’t play until Thursday, while the Valkyries have to travel across the country to face the Liberty on the second night of back-to-back games.) Still, Golden State’s previous performances against New York suggest it won’t be easy, dammit.