Lisa Leslie's Sparks Scoring Record Falls to Nneka Ogwumike in Historic Matchup

Nneka Ogwumike has become the Los Angeles Sparks' all-time leading scorer, surpassing Lisa Leslie's franchise record of 6,263 points. The achievement occurred during a game against the Chicago Sky on July 17, when Ogwumike converted a driving pull-up jumper from approximately eight feet to claim the historic milestone.

The Record-Breaking Moment

Ogwumike reached the milestone with a shot over Chicago center Azura Stevens, a play that captured the significance of her progression through the Sparks' record books. The record had stood as one of the most prominent individual achievements in franchise history. Leslie, who established the benchmark over her Hall of Fame career in Los Angeles, responded with public acknowledgment of the accomplishment.

"I have been the first to set over 10 WNBA records and countless LA Sparks records! I have always known that records are meant to be broken, but I can't be more proud when a player and person like Madame President Nneka Ogwumike breaks my records! Continue to carry the crown proudly Nneka! You earned it!"

Ogwumike's Trajectory and Legacy

Ogwumike was selected first overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Sparks and subsequently signed with Nike. She spent 11 seasons in Los Angeles before brief stints with the Seattle Storm in 2024 and 2025. She returned to the franchise that drafted her, rejoining the team to continue building on her accomplishments. Her career includes a championship in 2016, an MVP award in the same year, and recognition as one of the WNBA's 25 greatest players of all-time.

In the same week, Ogwumike tied Leslie's record on July 15 during a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. The Sparks faced Chicago on July 17 trailing at halftime 49-36, yet Ogwumike contributed 14 points on efficient shooting through the early portion of the game. Despite the individual milestone, Los Angeles fell to Chicago 96-82, with rookie Sydney Taylor leading the Sky with 19 points and contributing significantly to the home team's second consecutive victory.