Ogwumike moves – Nneka Ogwumike scored 12 points in the Los Angeles Sparks’ 97-88 win over the Phoenix Mercury, moving into fifth place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list with 7,383 points.
When Nneka Ogwumike stepped onto the floor for the Sparks against the Phoenix Mercury. it wasn’t just another game on the calendar. With her career points sitting at 7. 371 entering Thursday’s matchup. she needed 10 points to pass Tamika Catchings—Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer—who had 7. 380 career points.
Ogwumike delivered exactly what the moment demanded. She scored 12 points in Los Angeles’ 97-88 victory, finishing the night with 7,383 points—now fifth on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list.
The turnaround came in the second quarter. With 4:11 left in the period, Ogwumike knocked down a 15-foot jumper after an assist from Jihyun Park. She reached double digits with 10 total points in the first half, setting the stage for the rest of the night.
Ogwumike’s path back to this kind of milestone has its own story in the background. She returned to the Sparks this season after spending the past two seasons with the Seattle Storm. She spent the first 12 years of her career in Los Angeles. winning Rookie of the Year in 2012 and earning MVP honors during the 2016 season.
Now, the next chase begins. Ogwumike will move on to catching Tina Thompson, who finished her WNBA career in 2013 with 7,488 points. After Thompson, she’ll still have to chase three other players, including DeWanna Bonner—an active player and the only one on the list alongside Ogwumike.
Bonner, who plays for the Mercury, also appeared in Thursday’s game between Los Angeles and Phoenix. Entering with 7,862 points and sitting third on the list, Bonner finished with nine points in the loss.
The sequence of numbers tells a clear story: Ogwumike came in needing 10 to pass Catchings at 7. 380. scored 12 in the 97-88 win to reach 7. 383. and is now one step away from Tina Thompson’s 7. 488 mark—while Bonner. already ahead at 7. 862. remained active in the same game that shifted Ogwumike into history.
For the WNBA’s career points leaders, the list currently reads:
Diana Taurasi – 10,646
Tina Charles – 8,396
DeWanna Bonner – 7,871
Tina Thompson – 7,488
Nneka Ogwumike – 7,383
WNBA Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks Phoenix Mercury all-time scoring list Tamika Catchings Tina Thompson DeWanna Bonner
WNBA scoring list is crazy, like how do they even track all that? Congrats though.
Wait so she needed 10 points but got 12, and now she’s 5th? That math checks out I guess lol. Still wild Catchings number is right there.
I thought this was about Nneka Ogwumike moving teams again? Like she just got traded back to LA or something? My feed said Seattle Storm had her last year so I’m confused.
DeWanna Bonner is already ahead but only got nine points? So does that mean she still passed someone or what? Idk why they say Ogwumike ‘turned it around’ when it was only like second quarter jumpers.