Nneka Ogwumike is far removed from her 2016 WNBA MVP campaign, but she still proved in 2024 that she is one of the very best players in the entire league. This past season, the Seattle Storm forward contributed 16.7 points per game to go with 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals, which landed her firmly in the top 15 league-wide for points and all rebounding metrics, as well as second in the W in steals per game. Still, in her 13th season, she is one of the best defenders at getting her hands on the basketball and causing turnovers, which is typically something that slows down with age. She is also one of the most efficient shooters in the league.
- Levi Dombro
FanSided Contributor
Why you should be paying attention in 2025
It may be even more important to monitor her next year, during the 2025 season, because it will be her second year in Seattle and that continuity could breed more success. After 12 seasons in the same place (playing for the Los Angeles Sparks), Ogwumike made the transition up the Pacific coast to play for the Storm. It was the first time in her career playing for a new team, and there were quite a few new pieces for a Seattle team that was well below .500 in 2023. As they navigated a new roster, there were some growing pains. But that adjustment period should be over in 2025 and they can be a more cohesive unit with more experience together. Ogwumike will benefit tremendously from this.
By the numbers
Two of the most impressive statistics from Ogwumike’s 2024 campaign are her steal-to-turnover ratio and her shooting efficiency numbers. Not only did she match a career-high in steals per game, but she had her lowest turnover numbers since her rookie season all the way back in 2012, when she won Rookie of the Year. She was also just 2 percentage points short on her free throws for a 50/40/90 season, which is the gold standard for shooting prowess in basketball.