×

Nneka Ogwumike wins sportsmanship honor for fifth time

By Thomson Reuters Oct 13, 2026 | 3:58 PM

By Field Level Media

Oct 13 (Field Level Media) – Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was named winner of ​the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award ‌on Tuesday, extending her record for winning the award to five times.

This marks the second straight season in which the 36-year-old Ogwumike ‌won ​the award. She previously ⁠won it three straight ⁠times from 2019-21.

Ogwumike previously announced the 2026 season would be her 15th and final campaign. She averaged 17.3 points, ​9.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 43 games this season.

Ogwumike received ⁠38 votes in balloting ⁠of a panel of 74 ​sportswriters and broadcasters. Rebecca Allen (seven) of the ​New York Liberty was second and Kelsey ‌Mitchell (six) of the Indiana Fever placed third.

Ogwumike finished her career ranked fourth in WNBA history in points (8,047) and steals (718) ⁠and third in rebounds (3,657). She was an 11-time All-Star while playing for the Sparks (2012-23, 2026) ⁠and Seattle ‌Storm (2024-25) and was league ⁠MVP in 2016 while leading ​Los ‌Angeles to the WNBA title.

The award ​is ⁠named after Kim Perrot, who won two WNBA championships with the Houston Comets (1997-98) before passing away in August 1999 after a battle with cancer. She was 32.

(–Field ​Level Media)