What Is a 35-Year-Old Power Forward’s Future with the Seattle Storm?
Nneka Ogwumike's first season with the Seattle Storm in 2025 gave audiences a powerful insight into her enduring impact. Still, her future with the franchise outside of this year is still up in the air. As a veteran pillar of a talented roster, Ogwumike consistently delivered, averaging 18.3 points, seven rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, showing how remarkable her efficiency is with a 51.9 percent field goal percentage. Her skill when it comes to anchoring the paint defensively, providing clutch scoring, and mentoring younger players is irreplaceable, even as the Storm's playoff hopes ended in the first round. With the one-year contract she signed, this means that her 2026 free agency looms heavily over the team's offseason plans. This means that the Storm must plan a well-rounded strategy to secure her presence, or plan a different strategy in the event she decides to pursue other related career opportunities with another team.
Ogwumike's impact goes beyond her personal statistics; she helped improve the performance of other Storm players throughout the season. The progress of talents like Skylar Diggins-Smith, averaging 15.5 points and six assists, and Ezi Magbegor, who is a consistent force with eight points and 6.2 rebounds, was also supported by Ogwumike's leadership and defensive communication. This dynamic allowed the Storm to strongly compete in a loaded Western Conference, demonstrating that a balanced roster, anchored by a veteran, is the key to sustained success. The team's performance, even in a playoff exit, provided a clear picture of potential if the core can stay together.
The Storm's 2025 regular season ended with a 23-21 record and the number seven seed in the West, showcasing their moments of brilliance because of Ogwumike's consistent two-way plays. Her offensive clutches like rebounds and timely cores are the reason Seattle stayed in the games that might have otherwise been a loss to their record. In the final stretch, Ogwumike's crucial buzzer-beater against the Washington Mystics helped the team win a key game that had an impact on their playoff seeding. Even though their playoff run was cut short, with a two-games-to-one series loss to the Las Vegas Aces, Ogwumike remained a fierce competitor, averaging 16.0 points and nine rebounds in the postseason series. This level of performance, particularly in high-stakes games, further shows her value as a player capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs.
As the 2026 free agency period approaches, the Storm faces a pivotal offseason, with Ogwumike at the heart of it. Her decision will change the entire team, as well as the franchise's direction for years to come. This season, though brief, showed the insights into how important it is to have a leader like Ogwumike. It's hoped by the fans that she sees the roots she is laying down and chooses to continue building on the accomplishments in Seattle, which could lead to a renewed playoff push next season. Whether she stays or goes, her impact on the franchise in just one season is already undeniable.
