Legends don’t wait long to show you what they’re capable of. Drafted into the spotlight as a first-overall pick on the Los Angeles Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike hit the ground running. Left unchecked for a fraction of a second on September 13, 2012, Ogwumike slips backdoor and leaps to convert an alley-oop for two of 30 points in a late-season win over the Chicago Sky. Ogwumike would go on to win Rookie of the Year in the 2012, MVP in 2016, and played an instrumental role in the team’s 2016 title.

Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike converts alley-oop in 30-point rookie season gem

Nneka Ogwumike did not let falling to the floor prevent her from making a play. The longtime Los Angeles Sparks forward — now in her 12th season with the franchise — initially looked to post up a pair of Washington Mystics defenders before losing her footing in the paint. As she tumbled, the eight-time All-Star had the presence of mind to skip a bounce pass over to Karlie Samuelson, who knocked down a contested 3-pointer. Ogwumike posted team-highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds while also mixing in five assists and two blocks in her squad’s 91-83 road win on August 6, 2023.

Nneka Ogwumike fires off kickout pass while falling in paint

In one of the best nights of her career, Nneka Ogwumike’s show-stopping performance gave her Indiana Fever opponents the spins. Racing out in transition with a head of steam, the Los Angeles Sparks forward grabs a long outlet pass and nimbly twists around a one-on-one matchup, leaving her defender in the dust before finishing with a left-handed layup. Ogwumike scored 21 of her season-high 35 points in the first half, supporting that explosion with two rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals in the 86-79 victory on July 19, 2022.

Nneka Ogwumike puts defender in blender en route to 35-point night

Simply watching Nneka Ogwumike go to work with the rock is exhausting enough, good luck trying to check her. The Los Angeles Sparks forward wastes no time taking it straight to the Chicago Sky, facing up her defender down on the baseline before spinning her way into the paint, creating space with an up-fake and banking in a hoop before the opponents even know what hit them. Ogwumike finished with nine points in the August 13, 2013 victory.

Nneka Ogwumike spins free for a bucket in the post

It’s the untouchable footwork that makes Nneka Ogwumike such a problem in the paint. The Los Angeles Sparks forward draws her low-post defender out of position with a ball fake before stepping through for an off-balance hoop against the Dallas Wings. Ogwumike put up 18 total points in the season opener on May 14, 2021.

Nneka Ogwumike flashes footwork in the paint to create space for hoop

Strong, quick footwork separates good frontcourt players from truly special ones. Nneka Ogwumike shows she belongs with the latter, catching a teammate’s pass on the low block before getting her defender out of position with a flawless spin move, resulting in a hard-earned lay-in off the glass. The Los Angeles Sparks forward was her usual dominant self, scoring a team-high 23 points to go along with six rebounds, two steals and an assist in a 99-94 win against the Phoenix Mercury on May 25, 2022.

Nneka Ogwumike shakes defender with post move and bucket

Now in her 12th season with the Los Angeles Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike has seen it all — so rallying from a 17-point deficit hardly seemed insurmountable. The eight-time All-Star and her squad kept chipping away against the Dallas Wings, as Ogwumike made the extremely difficult look breezy as she drove into the paint before hitting the defense with a slick turnaround jumper while drawing a foul. The third-quarter bucket brought the Sparks to within nine, and by the end of the period the deficit would be just two as Ogwumike’s 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals led the way in the 76-74 comeback win on June 23, 2023. 

Nneka Ogwumike spins into fallaway jumper through contact

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Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike

Nneka Ogwumike