ESPN Reports: Nneka Ogwumike has spent the entirety of her career with the Los Angeles sparks, now she’s…

Nneka Ogwumike notifies Sparks that she intends to go as a free agent.

Nneka Ogwumike has informed the Los Angeles Sparks that she plans to depart in free agency, meaning she will be sporting a different uniform for the upcoming season.

After the Sparks selected Ogwumike with the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, she has spent her whole 12-year career with the organization.

“I’m very blessed. Ogwumike wrote on social media, “So much love for this community that wholeheartedly adopted this Stanford student 12 years ago.” “I take great delight in being a small part of Championship City’s heritage.”

With the words, “LA, I hope it’s not goodbye, but’see you later,'” Ogwumike ended her message.

In 2016, she won a championship with the Sparks and was named the league’s MVP.

Governor and managing partner of the Los Angeles Sparks Eric Holoman released a statement saying, “I want to congratulate Nneka Ogwumike for 12 wonderful seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.” “Nneka has been a driving force behind women’s sports, the WNBA, the Sparks, and the city of Los Angeles. With her No. 1 pick in 2012, her MVP award from the 2016 WNBA Finals, her game-winning shot, and several more unforgettable moments, her status as one of the greatest players to ever wear Purple & Gold is unquestionably established.

ESPN was the first to reveal Ogwumike’s departure.

This past Sunday was the first day that WNBA free agents could begin negotiations with teams and sign with a franchise.

Ogwumike averaged 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds last season as the Sparks missed the playoffs after finishing 17-23. She’s been a leader of the franchise as well as the president of the WNBA players association.

She will turn 34 in July and helped the team make the playoffs in her first nine seasons. The Sparks have had six coaches in her 12 years with the franchise, including current one Curt Miller.

With the knowledge that Ogwumike will play elsewhere this season, the Sparks now can turn their attention to rebuilding the franchise. Los Angeles has a lot of room for free agents as the franchise has only a handful of players under contract for next season.