Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike wins WNBA MVP

NEW YORK (AP) Nneka Ogwumike is the WNBA Most Valuable Player.

The league announced Tuesday that the Los Angeles Sparks forward received 31 of the 39 first-place votes from a national media panel. She shot a league-best 66.5 percent from the field, the second highest mark all-time. She averaged a career-best 19.7 points and 9.1 rebounds to help Los Angeles secure the second best record in the league.

Ogwumike also set a WNBA record when she made 23 consecutive field goals during one stretch, including going 12-for-12 in a game against Dallas.

New York's Tina Charles finished second, getting the other eight first-place votes. She was followed by Minnesota's Maya Moore and Chicago's Elena Delle Donne in the voting.

Ogwumike is the third Sparks player to receive the award, joining three-time recipient Lisa Leslie and two-time winner Candace Parker.