Nneka Ogwumike believes controversies are the main reason why the WNBA is popular: “It really sucks”

There is no denying that the rise of the WNBA fandom has been enormous, and the 2026 season has provided plenty of evidence of that growth. From record-breaking attendance at the All-Star Game to new stars dominating headlines, the league appears to be benefiting as more and more storylines continue to attract attention.

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However, Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike has no shame in admitting that a significant portion of the media attention surrounding the WNBA comes from recurring controversies.

In fact, according to the 2016 WNBA MVP, the players in the league recognize the situation and would rather see the league receive attention because of the quality of basketball and performance on the court.

Ogwumike admits to the harsh truth

When young superstars like Caitlin Clark, Olivia Miles and Paige Bueckers make highlight-reel-worthy or game-winning plays, they undoubtedly get attention. But the media seems hell-bent on putting more focus on the stories away from the court.

For instance, when former NBA players like Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White publicly mocked the WNBA for failing to take a stance for professional women athletes in a trans inclusion debate, or when Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington played the “white privilege” card, media analysts seem more interested in holding debates on those topics.

As a result, Ogwumike admitted that while WNBA players want to use their platform to speak about important issues, the media often focuses more heavily on controversy than the actual game.

For players who spend their entire careers growing the sport, that can understandably be frustrating, as every move they make can potentially ignite new controversies.

“Isn’t talking about the game. A lot of media hasn’t even watched us, so we feel that a lot. And it’s unfortunate because a lot of our players, we care so much about the game… we’re in a league that’s built on a platform that stands for a lot of different things… so, there are just so many different intersections,” Ogwumike told Matt Barnes. “I do think that we try to manage it as best as we can, but it really sucks.”

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The 2026 WNBA playoffs can change the perception

After an action-packed 2026 FIBA World Cup, all attention will be on the 2026 WNBA playoffs.

With stars like Caitlin, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, Miles and Bueckers, among others, set to take part, the league has an opportunity to put its biggest personalities and rivalries at the center of the conversation for the right reasons.

If those stars deliver in high-pressure moments, their performance could naturally become the stories driving the league’s coverage. Put simply, competitive games, individual battles, clutch plays and postseason rivalries can provide the kind of attention that every growing sports league wants.

But as Nneka pointed out, the responsibility does not fall entirely on the players. In fact, the media also has a role in determining which stories receive the most attention. As does the audience, by choosing to read and watch more of WNBA’s basketball content than the off-court controversies that have surrounded the league in recent months.

The WNBA has plenty of compelling basketball to offer and its players know that wholeheartedly.

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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 4:02 PM.