Rae Burrell, Sparks honor teammate Nneka Ogwumike with pregame fits

The Los Angeles Sparks played their final game of the WNBA season on Thursday night against the Golden State Valkyries. The Sparks, including rising star Rae Burrell, paid tribute to teammate Nneka Ogwumike before the game. The entire team wore the retiring veteran’s jerseys as their tunnel fits.

While most players went with a classic jersey and pants combo, Burrell and Chance Gray both wore jerseys with tall black boots. Forward Dearica Hamby turned a jersey into a skirt. Monique Akoa Makani wore a jersey over a long dress shirt.

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Repping Nneka Ogwumike tonight 🫶 🥹

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The @LASparks are dripped out to celebrate the last game by No. 30!

GSV-LAS | League Pass | 10pm/ET | 2026 Postseason Push | @DKSportspic.twitter.com/7Ihr4n1mNn

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 25, 2026

Burrell is up for Most Improved Player this season. The fifth-year player nearly doubled her scoring average in her first season as a starter. She averaged 14.5 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 37.4% from three. She has played her entire career alongside Ogwumike in Los Angeles.

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Nneka Ogwumike’s retirement

As for Ogwumike, she’s walking away at 36-years old, but she’s still basically at the top of her game. She was an All-Star who averaged 17.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, three rebounds and 1.2 steals a game. She led the team in rebounding, was second in points, and third in assists and steals.

Unfortunately, the Sparks will finish the season with a losing record for the sixth consecutive season. The Sparks haven’t made the playoffs since 2020. When the team won the WNBA Finals in 2016, Ogwumike led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks.

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