Ogwumike Stuns Liberty with Last-Second Buzzer-Beater!

On a night dedicated to celebrating the WNBA's rich history and the rematch of its inaugural game, Nneka Ogwumike delivered a spectacular finish, leading the Los Angeles Sparks to a thrilling 98-97 victory over the New York Liberty. Her clutch 3-pointer with less than a second remaining ignited a capacity crowd of 18,043 at Crypto.com Arena, marking a memorable moment for the league's 30th-anniversary season.

Ogwumike, a former No. 1 overall draft pick for the Sparks in 2012, has a storied history with the team, including an MVP season in 2016 when she helped secure Los Angeles' third WNBA title. After playing for the Seattle Storm in 2024 and 2025, she made a triumphant return to the Sparks this year. Beyond her on-court achievements, Ogwumike is also the long-standing president of the WNBA players' association, having played a pivotal role in negotiating the last two collective bargaining agreements in 2020 and earlier this year. Post-game, an emotional Ogwumike expressed her gratitude, telling ESPN, "It's emotional seeing all these legends in the building. People that didn't get paid their value, and they're still coming here and supporting us. I'm so grateful."

The significance of the game was amplified by the historical context: the Sparks and Liberty were two of the original eight WNBA teams and faced off in the league's very first game on June 21, 1997. This Sunday's celebration included several former Sparks and Liberty players, with Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, who spent her entire 12-season career with the Sparks, addressing fans at halftime to thank them for three decades of support. That inaugural match, held at the Forum in Inglewood, California, saw Leslie contribute 16 points and 14 rebounds in a 67-57 loss to Rebecca Lobo and the Liberty. Coincidentally, Lobo, who had 16 points and 6 rebounds in that first game, served as the analyst for ESPN's broadcast of Sunday's rematch.

For much of the game, it seemed the Liberty would repeat their historical victory, leading by 12 points at halftime and extending their advantage to as many as 17 in the third quarter. However, the Sparks mounted a relentless comeback. Ogwumike tied the score at 93 with a 3-pointer with 1:27 left. After the Liberty regained a 96-93 lead, Rae Burrell of the Sparks sank two crucial free throws with just 10.3 seconds on the clock. Breanna Stewart then made one of two free throws for the Liberty, setting the score at 97-95. This set the stage for Los Angeles guard Erica Wheeler to find Ogwumike behind the arc, who calmly swished her second trey of the night, finishing with a game-high 24 points and sealing the dramatic win.

Sparks coach Lynne Roberts lauded Ogwumike's heroics, stating, "Everyone in our locker room wouldn't have picked another person to hit that shot." Roberts further reflected on the profound symbolism of the moment: "On a night like tonight, where we're honoring the legacy of not only the Sparks but the league, what Nneka has done -- especially getting that new CBA done -- it's powerful when you think about it. That's what sports can do is bring out those moments. You couldn't have scripted it any better."