Chiney asks Nneka for 'mercy' in 1st clash of Ogwumike sisters since 2016

On Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Sparks will take on the Connecticut Sun in a battle of two of the WNBA's four remaining undefeated teams. Not only will the game mark the season's first game between the two legitimate title hopefuls, it also marks the fifth career regular-season meeting - and first since 2016 - between Sparks superstar Nneka Ogwumike and her younger sister, Sun forward Chiney Ogwumike.

Things have changed since their first WNBA matchup.

"The first time we played against each other when I was a rookie in 2014, it felt like a circus, because it was the first time playing against each other really, in life," Chiney told reporters at a press conference Wednesday.

"Playing against Chiney has been the narrative for a long time now ..." said Nneka. "For me personally, I'm actually surprised that it's even still a storyline."

Despite Nneka's bemusement, there's certainly built-in interest any time siblings face off in any sport - and it doesn't hurt that both Ogwumike sisters rank among the very best talents the WNBA has to offer when healthy. Both have garnered All-Star selections (four in six seasons for Nneka, one in two health seasons for Chiney), Nneka won the MVP award and a championship with the Sparks in 2016, and Chiney was the 2014 Rookie of the Year.

Here's the tale of the tape through four career matchups:

Nneka's Sparks are unbeaten against the Sun when Chiney has been active.

Nneka, 27, is off to another fast start in 2018, averaging 22 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists through two games. Given Nneka's edge in their head-to-head series and her current momentum, the 26-year-old Chiney hasn't seen a reason to provoke her big sis with trash talk. Instead, she jokes that the entire Ogwumike family has been pleading with Nneka to take it easy Thursday, feigning concern for her well-being.

"It's been more so mercy talk," said Chiney, "because Nneka's come out the gate hot this season. My family, they've been like, 'Be nice to the middle child, please Nneka! Please!' It's been mercy talk. I've been out here begging."

With a knee injury wiping out Chiney's entire 2015 season and an Achilles tendon injury keeping her sidelined all of last year, the next installment of the Ogwumike Bowl has been on ice since July 15, 2016.

"It's been a long time since we've played each other, so I'm just going to have fun with it," she said of Thursday's installment. "Last time, Nneka completely forgot who I was because she just went into game mode. Now, I'm just going to keep talking in her ear so she remembers who I am. Hopefully, that works.

"I've been taking every L for the last couple years," Chiney added. "We have yet to beat her. That's going to change Thursday, OK? Just kidding, I'm just kidding - not really though."

Chiney's occasionally self-effacing sense of humor makes for a good sound byte (which she deploys expertly in her side gig as a full-time ESPN analyst), but it belies her immense impact on the court when healthy. She ranked in the top 10 in player efficiency rating in 2014 and 2016, and remains one of the top offensive forces in the league.

"Chiney undermines herself," said Nneka. "Having her back on the Connecticut roster is a big deal for opponents and also this year for her team. Long story short: she's definitely on the scouting report."

Interestingly, the Ogwumikes doubled down on their claim that an on-court rivalry didn't exist prior to Chiney's arrival to the WNBA. They maintain they've never even played one-on-one against each other - not during their overlapping collegiate careers at Stanford, or even as kids growing up in Cypress, Texas.

"Well, we didn't (play one-on-one) before we played against each other in the WNBA, and we're certainly not doing it any time soon," Nneka laughed.

If any modicum of sibling rivalry exists at this point, it appears the Ogwumikes will be saving it for Thursday night's clash.