2016 WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike announces she's retiring after this season, her 15th in league

Nneka Ogwumike, the 36-year-old eight-time All-WNBA forward, announced on Wednesday that she will be retiring after the 2016 WNBA season. This puts an end to her impressive 15-year career in the league.

Speaking in an interview with Boardroom Talks, Ogwumike expressed how fulfilled she felt after 15 years of playing and competing at the highest level. Despite not knowing which player she could become in the league, she never anticipated playing this long or reaching such a high level of performance.

After being selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft out of Stanford, Ogwumike earned Rookie of the Year honors that same season with the Los Angeles Sparks. She went on to win the league MVP title in 2016, leading her team to a championship victory.

Former teammate Alana Beard praised Ogwumike's unique combination of strength, purpose, and grace, noting her dedicated leadership both on and off the court. This season, Ogwumike made the All-Star Game for her 11th time and averages nearly 17 points per game.

In addition to her impressive stats, Ogwumike has received numerous accolades, including being named to the first 25 years of the WNBA's 25-player list and seven times to the All-Defensive Team. She also expressed pride in playing alongside talented teammates like Maya Moore, Tina Thompson, Angel Reese, and A'ja Wilson.

Reflecting on her career, Ogwumike said she has "poured as much as I could" into the game, and this year represents her final opportunity to play. She feels content with her accomplishments and the future of women's basketball. WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson praised Ogwumike's extraordinary leadership, crediting her for her commitment, courage, integrity, and purpose in negotiating a transformative collective bargaining agreement for the union.