Nneka Ogwumike Is Heading Back to LA, and the Storm Just Lost Their Leading Scorer

Well, it's official. After two seasons running the offensive show in Seattle, Nneka Ogwumike is packing up and heading back to Los Angeles. Her sister, ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike, broke the news on X Friday morning: the 10-time WNBA All-Star and 2016 MVP intends to re-sign with the Sparks, the team she called home for 12 seasons before joining the Storm.

Ogwumike posted her goodbye to Seattle on social media Thursday night, sharing a collage of photos with a simple caption: "Thank you Seattle." It was the day after she announced she wouldn't be returning to the Storm, so this was the next shoe dropping.

What the Storm is Losing

This one stings. Ogwumike led the Storm in scoring for both of her seasons here. In 2024, she averaged 16.7 points. Last season, she bumped that up to 18.3 points per game. She was the engine that drove the offense, the reliable scorer you could count on night in and night out.

Two seasons might not sound like a long run, but she was the kind of presence that makes a difference in a league where scoring depth matters. The Storm is going to feel her absence.

Heading Home

For Ogwumike, this is a homecoming. She spent over a decade with the Sparks, and according to reporting, she's "looking forward to returning home." That's the kind of statement that tells you everything. Los Angeles is where her legacy was built. She won an MVP there in 2016. She was a franchise cornerstone. Now, at this stage of her career, she's choosing to go back.

The Storm will have to reshape their backcourt without her. That's the reality of the WNBA offseason. You lose a scorer like Ogwumike, you have to find another way to put points on the board. The question is: what's the plan now?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.