WNBA: Nneka Ogwumike on More Than A Vote’s ambitions

Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike has the special task of utilizing the power of the civically-engaged athlete in the upcoming election.

Back in August, Ogwumike was chosen by LeBron James to lead his More Than A Vote initiative, putting her in charge of mobilizing athletes to encourage people to vote, promoting political education and signing up poll workers.

More Than A Vote was established in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice protests that followed the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Arbery. Ogwumike and her sister Chiney were involved in 2020; to now be in charge in 2024 provides a great deal of meaning for Ogwumike. She told Swish Appeal:

I am honored in all respects. I felt very honored and blessed to be passed the torch. This organization has been so impactful for the athletes to be leaders and civically engaged. I felt honored LeBron chose me to keep it going.

Ogwumike is gearing the initiative to focus on reproductive freedom, which is a critical issue in the forthcoming election. This November, 10 states will have reproductive rights measures on the ballot. Since the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, reproductive rights activists have centered the issue, while women athletes have expressed concern over their futures. The importance of bodily autonomy is something Ogwumike fully understands, given her status as a professional athlete.

“As women athletes, we get paid for our bodies,” she said.

In addition to current WNBA players A’ja Wilson, Cameron Brink, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner, More Than A Vote has brought along legends Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, as well as college players such as UCLA’s Kiki Rice. WNBA players also have donned shirts saying “Vote” in during warm ups. Prominent male athletes like Steph Curry and Devin Booker, along with James himself, have lent their support, which serves to dismiss the notion that reproductive freedom solely is a women’s issue.

Ogwumike is known for her advocacy work. As WNBPA president, she helped spearhead the historic 2020 CBA, which gave WNBA players higher salaries and expanded benefits. She also was at the forefront of the organizing efforts engaged in by WNBA players in the 2020 “Wubble,” when the league took a strong stand for racial and social justice, especially around the issues of police violence against Black women and voting.

The league itself has always been on the frontlines on social activism in sports, dating back to the 2016 protest by Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty players following the police killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, as well as the killing of five Dallas police officers. Their activism occurred one month before San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest police brutality during the playing of the national anthem.

Given the WNBA is over 80 percent Black and that many of players exist at the intersection of marginalized racial, gender and sexual identities, Ogwumike recognizes that it is vital for the league to be socially active. She emphasized to Swish Appeal:

I think it has always been important for us. But I do hope that our efforts continue through many initiatives. We exist on a lot of those intersections given the composition of this league. It is something we have to do. We do it in the name of collaboration.

Beyond the election, Ogwumike has heard rumblings that she should be in line to be the next WNBA Commissioner, succeeding Cathy Englebert. She also has been encouraged to consider a run for public office in the future.

Those options are not off the table for her. “I feel like I need to do more on the court,” she said. “I don’t necessarily see myself doing that, but I’m not opposed to closing doors.”