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Video: Chiney Ogwumike Reveals Sister Nneka's New Storm Contract Live on SportsCenter

Zach BacharContributor IJanuary 31, 2025

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 15: Nneka Ogwumike #3 of the Seattle Storm and Chiney Ogwumike poses for a photo on September 15, 2024 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Scott Eklund/NBAE via Getty Images)
Scott Eklund/NBAE via Getty Images

Former WNBA forward and current ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike broke the news of her sister, Nneka, re-signing with the Seattle Storm in free agency while live on SportsCenter.

"This is huge, congratulations to my big sis," Chiney said Friday. "Shoutout to watching live and texting me live."

ESPN @espn

When your sister gets to break your news 🙌<br><br>Nneka Ogwumike is re-signing with the Storm, a source tells <a href="https://twitter.com/chiney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chiney</a> ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/6r9YLy5Ngh">pic.twitter.com/6r9YLy5Ngh</a>

Nneka initially signed a one-year deal with Seattle ahead of the 2024 season after spending the first 12 years of her career with the Los Angeles Sparks.

She made nine All-Star appearances throughout her impressive tenure in Los Angeles, winning MVP and helping guide the team to a championship in 2016.

Her first year with the Storm was also stellar, averaging 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds to go along with 2.3 assists per game. Ogwumike shot 51.1 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from three-point territory and 87.6 percent on free throws.

WNBA @WNBA

From the paint to the perimeter, Nneka Ogwumike is cooking up a storm ⛈️<br><br>14 PTS and counting for the <a href="https://twitter.com/seattlestorm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seattlestorm</a> vet!<br><br>SEA-PHX | League Pass 📱 <a href="https://t.co/h71m4wZx2R">pic.twitter.com/h71m4wZx2R</a>

Seattle ended the year with a 25-15 record, ultimately falling to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs.

Ogwumike's reunion with the Storm doesn't come as a large surprise, as Percy Allen of the Seattle Times reported Jan. 10 that "the team believes it has built strong ties" to re-sign her.

As for Chiney, she's played seven seasons in the WNBA with the Connecticut Sun as well as the Sparks. She averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game throughout her career, earning 2014 Rookie of the Year honors as well as a pair of All-Star nods.

WNBA @WNBA

Ogwumike ➡ Ogwumike 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/chiney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chiney</a> dishes out a dime to big sis <a href="https://twitter.com/nnekaogwumike?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nnekaogwumike</a> for two <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> points in the 1Q <br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBSSportsNet</a> <a href="https://t.co/zksHN2NGDe">pic.twitter.com/zksHN2NGDe</a>

She became an analyst at ESPN in 2018.

The Storm are in the midst of a busy offseason, as they dealt Jewell Loyd to the Aces in a massive three-team trade on Sunday. Seattle acquired the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft as part of the move.

Nneka Ogwumike is now set to return to the team next season, and the news of the reunion was released by her sister.