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WNBA Nneka Ogwumike spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Storm after playing with the Los Angeles Sparks for her first 12 years. Ian Maule / Getty Images Ten-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike will rejoin the Los Angeles Sparks after two seasons with the Seattle Storm, a source close to the decision confirmed to The Athletic on Friday. The move was first reported by Ogwumike’s sister Chiney, who is an analyst for ESPN. The WNBA’s free-agent negotiation period began on Wednesday, and signings can be made official on Saturday. Ogwumike also visited Minnesota, the source said, but ultimately she landed on a return to the Sparks as she enters her 15th season. Advertisement The veteran forward played the first 12 seasons of her career with Los Angeles but moved to Seattle in free agency ahead of the 2024 season. When Ogwumike announced her departure from the franchise in early 2024, she said that she hoped it wasn’t goodbye but instead “see you later. ” That later has now come. Ogwumike has been one of the most consistent players in the league over the last decade, averaging 30 minutes a game during her career. Last season, while playing 31 minutes a game, she averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists while shooting 51 percent from the floor. During her 12 seasons in Los Angeles, Ogwumike played under six different coaches as the franchise struggled to find consistency. Even so, in her fifth season, the Sparks won the 2016 WNBA championship and Ogwumike was the league MVP. She averaged career bests in points, rebounds, assists and shooting percentage that year. Entering 2026, Ogwumike will be a particularly important piece of Los Angeles’ puzzle under second-year coach Lynne Roberts. The Sparks had already cored guard Kelsey Plum, and without a first-round draft pick, it seems as though the direction of this franchise will skew more veteran. That could include 12-year veteran Dearica Hamby, who has played the last three seasons in Los Angeles, and potentially eight-year veteran Ariel Atkins, who reportedly could be traded to the Sparks in exchange for Rickea Jackson, who’s entering her third year in the league. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Chantel Jennings is The Athletic's senior writer for the WNBA and women's college basketball. She covered college sports for the past decade at ESPN. com and The Athletic and spent the 2019-20 academic year in residence at the University of Michigan's Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalists. Follow Chantel on Twitter @chanteljennings