Two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike has re-signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, the multiplatform ESPN commentator announced while guest-hosting «NBA Today» on Wednesday.
Ogwumike, a former No. 1 overall draft pick out of Stanford in 2014, will reunite with Curt Miller, who coached her for two seasons during her previous stint with the Connecticut Sun. «I'm not gonna lie,» Ogwumike said on «NBA Today» Wednesday. «The last two seasons for me have been the hardest seasons.
You all know the peaks and valleys of basketball. But nonetheless, I'm grateful for this new chapter, to be back with L.A., reunited with my former coach, Curt Miller.» «The WNBA has real momentum and I'm grateful to still be part of it.» Ogwumike, who's averaged 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game throughout her career, opted out of the 2020 «bubble» campaign and was limited to just seven games in 2021 due to injuries.
She told ESPN last year that she spent the 2022 offseason getting to the root of her knee issues. Last summer, the Sparks more broadly experienced turmoil with the midseason firing of then-head coach Derek Fisher and sudden departure of four-time All-Star Liz Cambage ahead of their playoff push.