Nneka Ogwumike Wins Record Fifth WNBA Sportsmanship Award in Final Season

Nneka Ogwumike added one more historic honor to her final WNBA season Tuesday, winning the 2026 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award for a record fifth time. The Los Angeles Sparks forward received 38 of 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, easily outpacing runner-up Rebecca Allen. It is Ogwumike’s second consecutive win after also taking the award in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025.

The award recognizes ethical behavior, fair play and integrity, qualities that have defined Ogwumike’s impact well beyond her production. In her 15th and final WNBA season, the 36-year-old averaged 17.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and a career-high 3.1 assists across 43 games. She also finished her career fourth in league history in scoring with 8,047 points, third in rebounds with 3,657 and fourth in steals with 718.

What makes this award especially fitting is the timing. Ogwumike has spent years serving as president of the WNBPA while remaining one of the league’s most respected players. She leaves the court as a champion, former MVP and 11-time All-Star, but the record fifth Sportsmanship Award highlights another part of her legacy: the respect she earned while helping lead women’s basketball through one of the most transformative periods in its history.