By John “Woods” Armwood III
On and off the court, two of the league’s most respected veterans show that leadership is about knowing people, adapting with time, and building a legacy.
In today’s WNBA, leadership isn’t just about calling out sets or being the loudest voice in the huddle. It’s about presence—about the ability to read the room, to elevate others, and to carry the culture. Few embody that more clearly than Alysha Clark and Nneka Ogwumike, two veteran players whose careers have been defined as much by how they lead as by what they accomplish.
Their leadership journeys reflect the evolution of the WNBA itself—toward a league where empathy and intention are as important as stats and star power.
“Leadership is Personal”: Alysha Clark and the Power of Adaptation
Alysha Clark’s reputation in the WNBA is rock solid: a defensive anchor, a culture-setter, and a selfless veteran who’s seen—and done—it all. But what makes her leadership rare is her approachability and intentionality.
“Every year as a leader, you have to learn different people,” Clark shares. “You have to learn different personalities, how people tick, what makes them work.”
This isn’t just coach-speak—it’s emotional labor. Clark doesn’t lead from a pedestal; she embeds herself in the rhythm of each locker room she joins. She knows that leading a championship-caliber Vegas team means something different than supporting a young, evolving Storm roster.
“What I could say to Chelsea, Jackie, or A’ja to get them going isn’t the same thing I can say to Nneka, Sky, or Gabby,” she explains.
Instead of expecting others to conform to her style, Clark adapts to theirs. She builds trust by listening first, learning what makes each teammate tick, understanding what pressure looks like for them, and showing up consistently as a steady, grounding force.
“That’s been fun for me,” she adds. “I love taking the time to understand what helps make people great, and just be that consistent piece to bring that out of them every night.”
In a league where turnover is constant and chemistry can be fragile, Clark’s presence is invaluable. She doesn’t just play the game—she engineers cohesion.
The Legacy of Nneka: Leadership, Reimagined
Where Clark brings balance, Nneka Ogwumike brings vision—rooted in deep experience and an unwavering love for the game.
A former MVP and longtime union president, Nneka has become one of the most respected figures in basketball. But what makes her leadership resonate isn’t just her resume—it’s the way she shows up, daily, for her teammates.
“I’m contributing to my team, hopefully providing resources to my teammates that are the future,” she reflects. “And also making history with teammates that are also future Hall of Famers in their own right, like Sky.”
For Nneka, leadership is circular—it’s about giving back what you’ve gained. She’s not just mentoring rookies; she’s building an ecosystem where growth is communal. Her impact goes far beyond the scoreboard.
She also speaks with refreshing clarity about the cultural shift happening in the league.
“I grew up in an era where you were stacking teams and delegating leadership, and you didn’t worry too much about money to make it work,” she says. “Now I’m growing out of that. I feel like everybody can get paid and still have a good team.”
It’s a subtle but powerful reframe: that leadership doesn’t require sacrifice of self-worth, and that players can—and should—thrive financially while maintaining a strong team identity. It’s a philosophy that redefines what it means to be a professional in the modern W.
“I’m just very grateful to be in a situation where I fell in love with the game again,” she adds.
More Than Teammates: Culture-Carriers in the W
In many ways, Clark and Ogwumike represent the new standard of veteran leadership in the WNBA—one that balances experience with empathy, discipline with flexibility, and excellence with intention.
They’re not interested in just getting theirs—they’re building something that lasts longer than their careers.
They’ve both seen the tough side of the league: short contracts, trades, injuries, and underfunding. And yet, they show up with compassion, curiosity, and commitment—not just to the game, but to the people who play it.
They are proof that you don’t have to shout to lead loudly. That power can be quiet, strategic, and deeply human.
In a league that’s finally receiving its due, Alysha Clark and Nneka Ogwumike are guiding lights—not just for rookies coming up, but for the entire ecosystem of women’s basketball.