How Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA players union president and Seattle Storm star, remains 'a steady, constant force' in her dual roles

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike is currently balancing demanding roles as a key player for her team and president of the WNBA players union. She is leading the Storm in their push for a top seed this season while simultaneously negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) aimed at leveraging the league's growth.

Ogwumike, a 10-time All-Star and 2016 MVP, believes her roles are interconnected and motivate her. She stated that participating in CBA negotiations while playing drives her to prove the on-court product deserves more value, aiming to stay locked into all her responsibilities.

Storm head coach Noelle Quinn praised Ogwumike's ability to handle both roles with grace. Quinn highlighted Ogwumike's significant leadership representing players in the monumental CBA negotiations while still performing on the court, as evidenced by her 22-point effort during All-Star Weekend.

The Storm, currently fourth in the league, recently dominated the Chicago Sky 95-57 after a loss to Dallas. Ogwumike contributed 10 points in 20 minutes during the Sky game, allowing bench players like rookie Dominique Malonga, who earned her first double-double, to shine. Malonga expressed deep admiration for Ogwumike, calling her "the best" and emphasizing how observing Ogwumike's disciplined daily routine and practice serves as a valuable learning tool.

Ogwumike acknowledged the difficulty of filling these roles. Having been union president since 2016, she learned crucial lessons about maintaining balance during the challenging 2020 season. That year, players looked to her for leadership amid the pandemic "Wubble" season and the "Black Lives Matter" protests, experiences that took a toll but ultimately steeled her for the current CBA negotiations.