All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike has rejoined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2026 WNBA season after spending two years with the Seattle Storm.
The 35-year-old veteran made her decision quickly after helping finalize the league's new collective bargaining agreement.
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Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, played her first 12 professional seasons in Los Angeles.
She returns to a rebuilding team that currently holds a 1-3 record and has not made the playoffs in six years.
Homecoming Motivation
"I think it's obvious that I have more years behind me than in front of me," Ogwumike said.
"So at this stage in my career, it made the most sense for me to come back to LA."
Organizational changes on and off the court convinced the veteran to bypass a traditional retirement tour in favor of pursuing competitive success.
"I want to be great. It's not enough to just be healthy.
I want to win," she said.
Ogwumike expressed optimism about the cultural shift and foundation being built within the Sparks.
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"Of course I have a lot of history here, but I appreciate the changes they are making. There is a palpable surge," she added.
During the regular-season opener against the Las Vegas Aces, Ogwumike felt at ease. "I was feeling at home," she told ESPN.
"It's hard to ever feel nervous in that environment."
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum praised the acquisition, calling Ogwumike "the prodigal child." Plum highlighted the forward's steady leadership through organizational transitions.
"She is the most respected person in our league for a reason. She is just steady.
The boat got rocky a lot, and she was always steady," Plum said.
Ogwumike previously led Los Angeles to a WNBA championship and aims to elevate the current roster's work ethic.
"We are as good as our work ethic and our discipline.
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We have a lot of people who work hard, and when you have hard workers, that ceiling can be pushed up," she said.
