Nneka Ogwumike

To catch a multiple-time All-Defensive First Teamer unprepared, a scorer must possess a rare type of deceptiveness, intuition, and aggressiveness all at once. Mere minutes into their clash against the Seattle Storm on July 1, 2024, Natasha Howard and the Dallas Wings were reminded that somewhere among that exclusive list, Nneka Ogwumike’s name is written in ink. Trailing back in an early-offense set, the former 2016 WNBA Most Valuable Player receives the ball, easing her way into the threat of a 3-pointer. Veteran-like in her convincing shot fake, Ogwumike compels Howard to take flight before powering past her with a gather step and a wide-open layup. Given plenty of reason to consider a pump fake after having played for the WNBA’s No. 1-ranked blocks unit, Ogwumike kept the high-IQ offense rolling throughout, with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, one 3-pointer, and a +23 plus-minus in 25 minutes. Ogwumike’s 16th-consecutive double-figure scoring game to open the year kept Seattle hot, as they won game No. 12 in 15 tries, dominant throughout their WNBA-record nine-game homestand.