The Seattle Storm signed free-agent star Nneka Ogwumike, her sister, Chiney, announced Monday.
.@chiney announced her sister Nneka Ogwumike's free agency decision on NBA Today 👏 pic.twitter.com/7s4H5CaEQ8
— espnW (@espnW) February 5, 2024
The new Storm signee later confirmed the move on social media.
It’s the #PNnW 🌩️ pic.twitter.com/e0RLhJKzhg
— Nneka Ogwumike (@nnekaogwumike) February 5, 2024
An eight-time All-Star, Ogwumike averaged 19.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists through 36 games last season with the Sparks. The 32-year-old was selected first overall by L.A. in 2012 after starring for Stanford across four seasons.
"Nneka is one of the most impactful players in the history of our league, not only her achievements on the court but also as an agent of positive change across the WNBA," Storm general manager Talisa Rhea said in a statement. "I know Seattle and our community share our enthusiasm that Nneka is coming to the Storm."
In 2016, she was named WNBA MVP following a regular season in which she averaged 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 33 starts. The star forward finished that campaign by helping the Sparks capture their most recent championship.
She confirmed that she was leaving the franchise in late January.
The Storm have revamped their roster, with Ogumike joining Skylar Diggins-Smith as marquee free-agent signings this offseason. Diggins-Smith, who didn't play this past season while on maternity leave, is a six-time All-Star and tallied 19.7 points, 5.5 assists, four rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in 2022.
Chiney Ogwumike joined ESPN in 2018 ahead of her third WNBA season with the Connecticut Sun. She then joined her sister in Los Angeles in 2019, where she's played the past four seasons, registering 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
