SEATTLE STORM

Storm, 9-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike agree to 1-year deal

Feb 1, 2025, 10:50 AM

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike...

Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm reacts after a basket during a 2024 game. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Nine-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike has agreed to return to the Seattle Storm on a one-year contract, Ogwumike’s sister and ESPN WNBA analyst Chiney Ogwumike reported Friday on “Sports Center.”

The news comes just days after Seattle was a part of a blockbuster three-team trade that sent star guard Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces and netted the Storm the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Aces’ first-round pick in 2026 and forward Li Yueru from the Los Angeles Sparks. Former UW Huskies star Kelsey Plum also moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, and the Storm sent the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 draft and their second-round pick in 2026 to the Sparks in the deal.

Report: Seattle Storm deal Loyd in blockbuster 3-team trade

Nneka Ogwumike returns to Seattle after a standout season in her debut with the Storm. The 34-year-old forward averaged 16.7 points while 51.1% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc, and added 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She led the team in steals and was second in scoring and rebounding.

Ogwumike’s efforts earned her an All-Star nod, second-team All-WNBA and All-Defensive team honors and a seventh-place finish in MVP voting.

With Ogwumike in the fold alongside Loyd, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor last season, the Storm finished in the league at 25-15 before falling to the Aces 2-0 in a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs.

The Stanford product spent her previous 12 seasons with the Sparks. She was Rookie of the Year after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2012 and won the MVP award in 2016.

Over 12 WNBA seasons, Ogwumike is averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals. She’s made seven All-WNBA teams, seven All-Defensive teams and has seven top-10 finishes in MVP voting.

The Storm open their season May 17 at the Phoenix Mercury and play their home opener May 23 against Phoenix.

Liberty franchise tag former Seattle Storm star Breanna Stewart

Seattle Storm

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike...

Zac Hereth

Storm, 9-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike agree to 1-year deal

The veteran Seattle Storm forward earned second-team All-WNBA and All-Defensive team selection last season.

7 days ago

Seattle Storm trade Jewell Loyd Las Vegas Aces Kelsey Plum 2024...

Cameron Van Til

Report: Storm deal Loyd in blockbuster 3-team trade

The Seattle Storm are reportedly trading six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd as part of a three-team deal that involves former UW Huskies great Kelsey Plum.

13 days ago

Seattle Storm NY Liberty Breanna Stewart...

The Associated Press

Liberty franchise tag former Storm star Breanna Stewart

Ex-UW Huskies star Kelsey Plum and Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams also were among the handful of players to receive the franchise tag.

25 days ago

Seattle Storm Sue Bird...

The Associated Press

Sue Bird, Mark Few among first-time Basketball HOF nominees

Sue Bird, Mark Few and the rest of nominees will find out if they've been named finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame in February.

2 months ago

Seattle Storm Jewell Loyd...

Doug Feinberg

Report: Jewell Loyd asks Storm for trade after investigation ends

A reported trade request by Jewell Loyd came hours after the Seattle Storm completed an investigation into internal allegations of workplace policy violations by the coaching staff.

2 months ago

WNBA Nneka Ogwumike Seattle Storm Cameron Brink...

Doug Feinberg

WNBA players union decides to opt out of current CBA

The WNBA players union has decided to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, two years before its expiration. The league and players union had the option to do so before Nov. 1.

4 months ago

Storm, 9-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike agree to 1-year deal