Sun deal Ogwumike to Sparks for 1st-rounder

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Saturday, April 27, 2019

The Los Angeles Sparks have acquired Connecticut Sun All-Star Chiney Ogwumike for a 2020 first-round pick, it was announced Saturday.

The move reunites Ogwumike, who averaged 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, with her sister, Nneka, who was the 2016 WNBA MVP.

The two also were teammates in college at Stanford.

"Chiney Ogwumike is one of the most athletic, versatile and efficient frontcourt players in the WNBA," Sparks general manager Penny Toler said. "Chiney provides us additional inside scoring, rebounding and rim protection. She will be a great addition to our roster."

Chiney Ogwumike was the No. 1 pick by the Sun in 2014 and she has been one of the most popular players in the franchise's history. She's had to miss two seasons because of injuries. She missed the 2015 WNBA season with a knee injury and sat out 2017 because of an Achilles injury. Both were suffered while she played overseas.

She shot 60.3% from the field last season, the third-highest mark in the league.

"We would like to thank Chiney Ogwumike for her contributions to our organization since 2014," Sun coach and general manager Curt Miller said in a statement. "We wish her well with her career and expanding her off court interests."

Along with her playing career, Ogwumike, 27, also works as an ESPN analyst.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.