Nneka Ogwumike reportedly returning to Los Angeles Sparks in free agency

Nneka Ogwumike returning to Los Angeles Sparks in free agency

Nneka Ogwumike is moving on from the Seattle Storm after two seasons, signing a new deal to join the Los Angeles Sparks in free agency, according to her sister, ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike.

Ogwumike returns to the Sparks, where she spent the first 12 seasons of her career before heading to Seattle. Ogwumike won a championship with Los Angeles in 2016, and earned eight All-Star nods in her time there.

Ogwumike made her intention to leave the Storm clear on Thursday afternoon, posting a “Thank you Seattle” message on social media.

On Friday morning, she posted a video on social media confirming her intentions to return to Los Angeles.

Ogwumike’s departure was somewhat expected after Noelle Quinn was fired as Seattle’s head coach following the team’s first-round playoff exit. Quinn, who had been Seattle’s head coach for five seasons before being let go, has since joined Unrivaled as the head coach of the Breeze Basketball Club. The Storm hired Sonia Raman as Quinn’s replacement in October.

Ogwumike finished the 2025 season averaging 18.3 points, seven rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Storm as a starting forward. The 35-year-old forward also served as the WNBA Players’ Association (WNBPA) president as the league negotiated its historic collective bargaining agreement this offseason.

Seattle has a number of other notable free agents this offseason, including Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams, Ezi Magbegor and Brittney Sykes. Magbegor has already been offered a core qualifying offer, while Williams and Sykes are more up in the air. Like Ogwumike, Diggins is expected to leave the team.