Nneka Ogwumike set to join Storm on one-year deal

Nneka Ogwumike has signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Storm, marking a significant move to the Pacific Northwest after an eventful WNBA free agency period. The announcement was made by Ogwumike on social media this Monday. https://x.com/nnekaogwumike/status/1754597943468781796?s=20 In a surprising move back in January, Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA MVP and the No. 1 draft pick in 2012, declared her intention to explore new opportunities in free agency. This decision marked her first experience as an unrestricted free agent, having spent her entire 12-year WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks. In the previous season, she demonstrated impressive stats, averaging 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds, as reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Despite speculation and public appearances in New York that fueled excitement about a potential move to the Liberty, Ogwumike ultimately chose the Seattle Storm. While New York was under consideration, sources informed ESPN that she was drawn to the Storm due to the opportunity to compete for a championship alongside recently acquired Skylar Diggins-Smith and Storm star guard Jewell Loyd. Ogwumike's free agency journey involved meetings with other teams, including the Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, and Atlanta Dream. The Seattle Storm officially welcomed her with a tweet that hailed her as a "Leader. Veteran. Champion. MVP. 8x All-Star. 6x All-WNBA," expressing excitement about her joining the team in the Pacific Northwest.