nneka ogwumike is back with the Los Angeles Sparks after two seasons in Seattle, giving the franchise its marquee offseason signing. She returns to the team that drafted her No. 1 overall in 2012, and the move gives Los Angeles a proven scorer and defender after a 21-win season that still ended without a playoff berth.
Ogwumike’s return
Ogwumike posted, “It was always see you later, now I’ll see you soon…” on social media the morning she announced the move. The forward comes back as a 2016 MVP and 10-time All-Star, and her return links the Sparks’ present push to the same franchise that started her career.
Her 2025 season with the Seattle Storm shows why Los Angeles moved to bring her home. Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, shot 51.9% from the field and set a career best with 1.5 three-pointers per game at 36.7%.
Los Angeles Sparks roster
The Sparks needed that production after missing the playoffs in 2025, even with a 15-9 finish after the All-Star break and road wins over six of the eight playoff teams. Those numbers show a team that could compete with top opponents but still lacked the final piece to turn that run into a postseason spot.
Raegan Pebley said, “We assembled this team to put ourselves in a position that would commit to the process and has the capacity to go win a championship,” and added, “What I love about this group is we have a lot of people who have won a championship, who know what it takes to win.” Ogwumike’s arrival fits that aim, while her return also comes after she led negotiations behind the historic CBA as WNBPA president.
For the Sparks, the move is more than a reunion. It gives Los Angeles another veteran option on a roster built to push for the playoffs in 2026, and it puts one of the league’s most decorated forwards back in the uniform that first made her the No. 1 pick.
