The Seattle Storm made another big splash this offseason and sign eight time WNBA All-Star Nelson Ogwumike. Last week they signed Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Ogwumike spent the first 12 seasons of her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks. ESPN reported that Ogwumike signed a one-year contract with Seattle after meeting with the New York Liberty, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury during her free agency.
“I had the pleasure of having options and opportunities to be able to see different teams and people seek me out, which is something I think every player should experience,” Ogwumike said during a televised interview with her sister Chiney, an ESPN basketball analyst, who announced the decision Monday afternoon. “Ultimately, I felt like I just fit best in an organization that has so much history. We’re living in a house that was built by legends and continues to be built and coached by legends.
“It just really resonated with me to continue to build in that legacy with some other key pieces.”
Ogwumike averaged 19.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season. She has averaged 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in her WNBA career. Also, a four-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection, Ogwumike has career averages of 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Now with the acquisitions of Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike, they will be teaming up with WNBA leading scorer Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor in Seattle, the Storm can be contending for the WNBA Championship. Seattle struggled to an 11-29 finish last season in what was a transitional year after Sue Bird’s retirement and Breanna Stewart’s decision to sign with the Liberty.
