7 Inspiring Photos From WNBA Star Nneka Ogwumike’s Trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands
From leading the renegotiation of the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement in 2020 to taking part in an SI Swimsuit photoshoot last year, Nneka Ogwumike truly is a powerhouse. The professional basketball player accompanied photographer Laretta Houston to St. Thomas for her SI Swim debut.
The Los Angeles Sparks forward always has been aware of the legacy she wants to create. While playing basketball at Stanford, the 2016 WNBA MVP experienced a lot of meaningful growth.
“I’m very proud of my time at Stanford,” she told SI Swimsuit. “I learned so much about myself. I learned how not to box myself in, and that really prepared me for the [WNBA].”
The 33-year-old certainly has carried that knowledge forward. From her work for the WNBA Players Association to the set in St. Thomas, her mission is always “to listen to people’s experience and especially empower those who have not historically had the space to share their story and their experience,” she said.
In St. Thomas, Ogwumike strove to empower as she posed for the camera in a series of all-black ensembles.
“Beauty is more than just what you scroll past. It’s all about how you feel. It’s about empowering yourself to empower others,” she said. “I hope that every facet of my representation [in the SI Swim issue] resonates with somebody.”