Nneka Ogwumike: Nigerian-born former WNBA MVP joins Seattle Storm from LA Sparks

Nneka Ogwumike, a former WNBA MVP, signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Storm.

The former star of the Los Angeles Sparks, who averaged 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds in her final season, visited with the Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream, and New York Liberty on her hectic free agency tour before selecting the Storm.

Ogwumike's recent public appearances in New York have fuelled rumors that she may join the star-studded Liberty, who made it to the WNBA Finals the previous season.

Speaking to her sister Chiney Ogwumike on ESPN's NBA Today Nneka explained her decision to join Seattle Storm.

Ogwumike did give New York a lot of thought, but in the end, she chose the Storm because they offered her a defined role and the chance to compete for a championship with current Storm star guard Jewell Loyd and free agent addition Skylar Diggins-Smith.

Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith have always respected one another, even though they carried out their free agency in different ways.

Ogwumike, the first overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, spent her 12 seasons with Los Angeles as an eight-time WNBA All-Star.

She signed with a team in the Western Conference after announcing last month that she would not be joining the Sparks again.