Sparks Edge Liberty 98-97 on Ogwumike’s Buzzer-Beating Three-Pointer

The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the New York Liberty 98-97 on Sunday night when Nneka Ogwumike sank a three-pointer at the buzzer. ESPN reported the game took place at Crypto.com Arena before an attendance of 18,043. Ogwumike finished with a game-high 24 points on two three-pointers.

She tied the score at 93 with 1:27 remaining before the Sparks completed the rally. ESPN reported that Sparks guard Erica Wheeler found Ogwumike behind the arc for the decisive shot. The contest marked a rematch of the WNBA's inaugural game on June 21, 1997, between the same two franchises.

The 2026 season is the league's 30th anniversary season. Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, who played her entire career with the Sparks, addressed fans at halftime. Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick by the Sparks in the 2012 WNBA Draft and the 2016 league MVP, returned to Los Angeles this season after playing for the Seattle Storm in 2024 and 2025.

She is the longtime president of the WNBA players' association and helped negotiate the 2020 and 2026 collective bargaining agreements. "It's emotional seeing all these legends in the building," Ogwumike told ESPN after the game. "People that didn't get paid their value, and they're still coming here and supporting us.

Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said the moment fit the occasion. "Everyone in our locker room wouldn't have picked another person to hit that shot," Roberts said.