Nneka Ogwumike closed her 15-year WNBA career Thursday, Sept. 24, with 17 points and 15 rebounds in a 76-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries at Crypto.com Arena.

The double-double was her 19th of the season, a Sparks single-season record. It was also her last act as a player. The franchise's all-time leading scorer walked off the court for good, finishing fourth in WNBA history with 8,013 career points.

Ogwumike missed a free throw on a technical foul in the final seconds. She joked about it with the crowd before turning to address her career, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"I wanted that for you guys, I wanted that for my teammates … But I wouldn't go down any other way, which is competing hard here in L.A. against some great competition," Ogwumike said.

The Valkyries scored 13 consecutive points late in the fourth quarter to erase a double-digit Sparks lead and steal the win. Golden State (32-12) clinched the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs with the victory.

After the final buzzer, Sparks team president Stacy Johns presented Ogwumike with naming proofs for the team's new El Segundo practice facility. It will be called the "Nneka Ogwumike Player Sanctuary." Ogwumike had tears in her eyes.

The $150 million, 64,000-square-foot facility is set to open for the 2027 season, according to the LA Sentinel. It will be the first indoor-outdoor practice facility in the WNBA.

Ogwumike was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft. She spent 12 seasons with the Sparks before leaving for Seattle. She returned to Los Angeles in 2026 to finish her career.

Along the way she won Rookie of the Year, MVP and a WNBA title. She passed Lisa Leslie on July 17 to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer and also holds the franchise rebounds record. She ranks third all-time in WNBA rebounds (3,571) and steals (716).

Four days before Ogwumike's farewell, Leslie became the first female professional athlete to receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, in a ceremony on Sept. 20.

Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said the loss stung but the night belonged to Ogwumike. Roberts, when asked if she believes she should return as head coach next season, said yes.

Teammate Cameron Brink spoke about Ogwumike's mentorship after an Aug. 26 loss to the Atlanta Dream, telling the LA Sentinel that Ogwumike "has been the most amazing role model and has been the perfect example of coming into practice every day early."

The Sparks finished 16-28, missing the playoffs for the sixth straight season. The franchise has not won a title in 10 years. They traded Kelsey Plum to Phoenix after a lower-leg injury and finished with the second-worst defense in the league.

Ogwumike, who also serves as WNBA Players Association president through the end of 2026, offered parting advice for the organization. She said the Sparks need stability, a vision and a direction.

General manager Ariana Andonian heads into the offseason with two lottery picks, one from the Plum trade and one from the team's low standing in the 2026 standings.