Sun's Jasmine Thomas, Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike Named Players of the Week


NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2016 – Jasmine Thomas of the Connecticut Sun and Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks today were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Sept. 12-18.

Thomas earned Player of the Week honors for the first time in her six-year career. The former Duke University standout led the Sun to a 3-0 week as Connecticut finished the season 14-20. For the season, Thomas ranked second in the WNBA in assists (5.1 apg).

Thomas paced all WNBA players in assists (7.3 apg) and tied for fourth among East players in scoring (16.3 ppg) last week. She opened her week by matching her career high with 21 points and added six assists and five rebounds in an 89-87 victory against the visiting Indiana Fever on Sept. 13. Three days later, Thomas notched 14 points and six assists in a 107-74 home win over the Dallas Wings. On Sept. 18, Thomas tallied 14 points, tied her career best with 10 assists and grabbed six rebounds in an 87-78 road victory against the Washington Mystics.

Ogwumike earned Player of the Week honors for the sixth time this season and the 10th time in her five-year career. The former Stanford University standout recorded two double-doubles to lead Los Angeles (26-8) to a 2-0 week as the Sparks clinched a double-bye and the No. 2 seed for the WNBA Playoffs. For the season, Ogwumike finished third in the league in scoring (19.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg).

Last week, the three-time All-Star ranked second in the league in scoring (20.5 ppg), tied for second in rebounding (10.0 rpg) and tied for sixth among West players in assists (4.0 apg).

On Sept. 13, Ogwumike finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 90-85 home win over the Phoenix Mercury. She capped her week with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a 71-65 victory against the visiting San Antonio Stars on Sept. 16.

Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were the Atlanta Dream’s Angel McCoughtry, the Chicago Sky’s Tamera Young, the Wings’ Theresa Plaisance, the Minnesota Lynx’s Maya Moore and the Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart.

For more information on this week’s Players of the Week, visit www.wnba.com/awards.

2016 WNBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

  • 5/22/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Maya Moore (Minnesota)
  • 5/29/16: Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles)
  • 6/5/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Maya Moore (Minnesota)
  • 6/12/16: Emma Meesseman (Washington) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)
  • 6/20/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles)
  • 6/27/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix)
  • 7/6/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)
  • 7/11/16: Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta) and Maya Moore (Minnesota)
  • 7/18/16: Elena Delle Donne (Chicago) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)
  • 7/25/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)
  • 9/4/16: Elena Delle Donne (Chicago) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)
  • 9/11/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm)
  • 9/18/16: Jasmine Thomas (Connecticut) and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles)