LOS ANGELES — As the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty met Sunday night to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the WNBA’s first game, Nneka Ogwumike found herself tasked with explaining the meaning behind the moment.
Who else would it be? The Sparks forward is, after all, “Madame President,” the leader of the players’ union and one of the most veteran players in the league. But her best answer was what she did when the Sparks trailed by two with a second left, when she caught the ball on the left wing, elevated and let it rain.
Splash! As a sold-out Crypto.com Arena celebrated Ogwumike’s buzzer-beater for a 98-97 Sparks victory, it became crystal clear that the meaning of the WNBA’s past 30 seasons was getting to this moment of celebration.
“I just felt the emotions of it all,” Ogwumike said. “Getting the win, it’s more than just a number in the W column. It’s incredibly meaningful, especially for this community of people that have been pouring into us, these legends that have laid the foundation. I just kind of felt it all in that moment.”
Ogwumike, 35, has been a presence in the WNBA for half its existence. She is not only considered one of its best players but also a compass, carefully guiding players beyond the past and into an uncharted future. Her leadership was on full display in the 17 months of negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA that culminated in a revolutionary collective bargaining agreement that is highlighted by the first $1 million salaries and a historic revenue-sharing model.
Who else would it be? The Sparks forward is, after all, “Madame President,” the leader of the players’ union and one of the most veteran players in the league. But her best answer was what she did when the Sparks trailed by two with a second left, when she caught the ball on the left wing, elevated and let it rain.
Splash! As a sold-out Crypto.com Arena celebrated Ogwumike’s buzzer-beater for a 98-97 Sparks victory, it became crystal clear that the meaning of the WNBA’s past 30 seasons was getting to this moment of celebration.
“I just felt the emotions of it all,” Ogwumike said. “Getting the win, it’s more than just a number in the W column. It’s incredibly meaningful, especially for this community of people that have been pouring into us, these legends that have laid the foundation. I just kind of felt it all in that moment.”
Ogwumike, 35, has been a presence in the WNBA for half its existence. She is not only considered one of its best players but also a compass, carefully guiding players beyond the past and into an uncharted future. Her leadership was on full display in the 17 months of negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA that culminated in a revolutionary collective bargaining agreement that is highlighted by the first $1 million salaries and a historic revenue-sharing model.
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