Nneka Ogwumike on Redefining Success After Basketball and Inspiring the Next Generation!

In September, you played your final WNBA game after 15 years. So what was that experience like for you? Did it feel different? So, you know, I kind of approach every day, every game just the same. Now, there was a lot of build-up to the last game. More cameras than I'm used to. Okay. But it was okay. You know, I think it was a great way to celebrate and to remember the moment. But what I loved most about it was being able to engage with the fans. It was really fun to be able to see so many different people along the way in my career come back and watch. Um, yeah, I mean, I'm officially, like, retired now. Ooh! I feel good. You feel good? We want to know, what is the first thing you did after you retired? Uh, the first thing I did, you guys, I went to Disneyland. I love that for you! Okay, is it a certain, like, feature that you love at Disneyland? I'm a Disney adult, so, like, I love the Disney movies, I love the lore, I love learning about Walt Disney. And yeah, my teammates, we all went together and we like stayed at the hotel, spent the night and everything, did both parks. We did the whole thing. Oh, that sounds like fun. Yeah. Okay. How did you make the decision to retire? When did it hit you like, okay, it's time to retire? Yeah. So, you know, we had been negotiating the CBA, the collective bargaining agreement that we were able to get done for 18 months and that kind of pushed things back. So by the time free agency came, there was only about... A few days before people had to kind of like make a decision on what team they wanted to play on. Yeah, it was just a few days. So I took my free agency seriously. I even took a visit. And then ultimately, I had decided to sign back to L.A. And originally, I was supposed to sign for two years. But things happened because of how condensed free agency was. And I ended up signing a one-year deal. Got to training camp. We had it in San Diego. And I was like walking along the beach. And I was just thinking like, man. You know, I think I'm good. I think I have one more year to just lay it out. Yeah. And that was how I made my decision. Oh, okay. Yeah, it was... It was kind of reflective, but it was good. Because you've done so much, achieved so much, and paved the way for so many others. So it's time for you to have your time for you. Thank you. I appreciate it. In addition to everything else you achieved, also, you also are an incredible woman to help players to, like, make a difference for other women players. Can you tell us more about that? Yeah, I mean, I kind of fell into a leadership role 10 years ago. I mean, before that, I had been a part of the executive committee. So we have the players union. And you have representatives from each team. I had been voted as a representative without my knowledge. Oh, wow. This is new news. OK. Yes. So I just was serving as a player rep. And then eventually, I was then again voted onto the executive committee without knowing. And ultimately, I was serving. And the great Tamika Catchings, when she was retiring, said, hey, I think you should run for president. And I was like, no, girl. I do not want to do that. You said no to the whole thing. I said no multiple times. She didn't take no for an answer. Okay. So I ended up running, and I was elected president in 2016. And from there on, I just found kind of this new passion, this new motivation, not just to be more than a basketball player, but also to use that to fuel how I hoop. And it's been something that has been incredibly gratifying in my career. It's not like they picked the right one, though. No. For sure. It wasn't just me, though. I had a lot of help. Good, though. That makes a difference. It takes teamwork, right? It does. It does. Okay, so when you started in the WNBA, what did you ever think your legacy would be? Ooh, I didn't think anything about that. Yeah, I mean, I just, you know, actually, originally, I wasn't even sure if I was going to play in the W. I was playing in school, and it wasn't until my sister, Chanae, was like, she used to do that. What she's doing now makes a lot of sense because she was on the blogs like, you could get drafted number one, like you need to enter the draft. And I was like, Chanae, I'm about to go do my post-baccalaureate and try and become a doctor. She's like, oh, medical school will always be there. So I eventually, you know, graduated early, declared for the draft. And then when I came into the league, it was just very much. Kind of like everything was the same, but I wasn't in school. So I had a lot of time and I used a lot of my extra time to pour into my game. And I think just entering the league, I was like, hey, you know, I've been doing this for a while. Now they're paying me to do something that I love and took it day by day and just maintained that discipline to be able to. Play the best way that I could I never thought I would play 15 years though. That's a blessing. That is a blessing What you put your mind to, you can do it. Well, you know we can't have you here without give you a little something of a gift for your retirement, so this is for you Oh! I might wear this home. Okay, y'all what was your favorite part drop it in the comments hit the subscribe button And if you're not ready to leave your happy place just yet. I got another video waiting for you right Right here.