WNBA includes 7 past, current Sparks among its 25 greatest players

Seven past and existent Sparks made the WNBA’s “The W25,” a database that honors “the 25 astir dominant, skilled and entertaining players successful league history” arsenic voted connected by a sheet of prime media and women’s hoops pioneers, the league announced Sunday.

The postulation of stars includes existent standout Nneka Ogwumike, arsenic good arsenic past Sparks greats Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker (who present now a subordinate of the Chicago Sky). Also connected the list: Seimone Augustus (who played for L.A. successful 2020 and present is simply a Sparks adjunct coach); Ticha Penicheiro (2010-11); Cappie Pondexter (2018) and Tina Thompson (2009-11).

In summation to being a six-time All-Star and the 2016 WNBA MVP, successful her relation arsenic the president of the WNBA Players Association, she helped usher successful a caller corporate bargaining statement and operation the program for the 2020 WNBA play to beryllium played successful a bubble astatine IMG Academy successful Bradenton, Florida.

“I americium truthful grateful to person my sanction listed amongst past and contiguous legends who’ve pioneered the W implicit these astonishing 25 years,” Ogwumike said successful a quality release. “As an jock connected the court, I’m arrogant of my vocation and anticipation to proceed to permission a bequest of greatness. What I’ve been capable to lend to the crippled on with the phenomenal women of this league done generations is 1 of my top accomplishments. Being recognized for immoderate interaction I’ve made is simply a existent honor.”

Leslie led the Sparks to 2 championships successful summation to earning 3 WNBA MVP awards and doubly winning Defensive Player of the Year. The halfway who played astatine USC and Inglewood’s Morningside High School was a 12-time All-WNBA enactment and led the league successful rebounding 3 times.

In her 13 seasons with the Sparks, Parker won Rookie of the Year, MVP, was a two-time MVP, the 2016 Finals MVP and a nine-time All-WNBA selection. She’s besides a six-time All-Star and three-time league rebounding leader. She was named Defensive Player of the Year past season.

🥁 IT’S OFFICIAL 🥁

Here are your #WNBA 25 top players of each time!#CountIt pic.twitter.com/kf1GGUfXMS

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 5, 2021