Ogwumike's Epic Buzzer-Beater
Sparks Erase 17-Point Deficit, Beat Liberty on Ogwumike's Last-Second 3
Key Points
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said the team was not fully healthy, noting “Not having [Cameron Brink] is a big loss,” and emphasized their pregame message about staying present and not panicking even while missing an impactful player.
Kelsey Plum returned after missing the prior game (ankle sprain) and finished with 12 points and seven assists; Roberts highlighted L.A.’s success rate when Plum records at least seven assists—“They’re 7-0 when Plum records seven or more assists.”
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was limited to two points on 1-of-3 shooting in 22 minutes, a factor noted alongside New York’s overall double-figure scoring.
The game’s 30th-anniversary events directly featured WNBA legacy players: Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton lined up at center court for the pregame tip like the 1997 debut, with Sparks alumni DeLisha Milton-Jones and Tamecka Dixon at practice and New York welcoming original roster members Sue Wicks, Hampton, Teresa Weatherspoon and Vickie Johnson.
Ogwumike’s postgame emotional reaction was tied not just to the on-court moment, but her broader league impact—she is described as the “architect of the last two collective bargaining agreements” as players’ union president and “the fourth-leading scorer in WNBA history.”
Nneka Ogwumike hit a 26-foot buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Los Angeles Sparks a 98-97 win over the New York Liberty on Sunday, erasing a 17-point second-half deficit at Crypto.com Arena. The Associated Press reported that Erica Wheeler raced the length of the floor with no timeouts left and found Ogwumike on the wing in the final seconds. The shot gave L.A. its second straight win.
The game fell on the exact 30th anniversary of the WNBA's first-ever contest — a June 21, 1997 Sparks-Liberty matchup that New York won 67-57. This time, Los Angeles flipped the script. Ogwumike finished with a season-high 24 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter alone.
Wheeler's Final Sprint Sets Up Ogwumike's Historic Shot
The Sparks had no timeouts when Breanna Stewart split two free throws to put New York up 97-95 with 8.6 seconds left. Wheeler grabbed the inbound pass and sprinted up the floor. She found Ogwumike open on the wing, and Ogwumike buried the 3-pointer from about 26 feet as the buzzer sounded. TSN noted the Sparks trailed by 17 in the third quarter before the rally began.
Stewart — an 87.5% free-throw shooter entering the game — went 2-of-4 at the line in the final 30 seconds, according to The Associated Press. Those misses proved costly. Rae Burrell had made two free throws at 10.3 seconds to cut the gap to one, setting up Wheeler's sprint and Ogwumike's winning look.
Ogwumike Scores 24, Plum Returns to Run the Offense
Ogwumike was the engine all night. She shot 11-of-18 from the field and is now the fourth-leading scorer in WNBA history. Wheeler added 15 points and the game-winning assist. Burrell chipped in 19, and six Sparks players hit double figures total.
Kelsey Plum came back after missing a game with an ankle sprain. She posted 12 points and seven assists. Coach Lynne Roberts pointed out a key stat after the game: "They're 7-0 when Plum records seven or more assists," according to The LA Times. Roberts also said, "Not having [Cameron Brink] is a big loss," but added that Plum's return gave the whole group confidence.
WNBA's 30th Birthday Brings Legends Back to Center Court
The game doubled as a league-wide celebration. Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton lined up at center court before tip-off, recreating the ceremonial start from 1997. Former Sparks stars DeLisha Milton-Jones and Tamecka Dixon attended practice. The Liberty welcomed original roster members Sue Wicks, Hampton, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Vickie Johnson to their walk-through.
Ogwumike's post-game reaction was emotional. As WNBA Players Association president, she helped design the last two collective bargaining agreements — the contracts that set pay and working conditions for every player in the league. Winning on the league's 30th birthday, on her home court, carried weight beyond the box score, TSN reported.
Liberty Fall to .500 Pace, Face Aces in Cup Title Game
New York dropped to 11-6, losing its second straight after an eight-game winning streak. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jonquel Jones also scored 18. But Sabrina Ionescu, who is managing foot and back injuries, finished with just 2 points on 1-of-3 shooting in 22 minutes.
The loss stings, but the Liberty still have a big game ahead. They will host the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner's Cup championship on June 30, according to WNBA.com. Los Angeles, meanwhile, moves to 8-8 and back to .500, keeping the Sparks alive in the playoff race.
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