Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike ends WNBA 30th anniversary game with stunning buzzer-beater
LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike couldn’t fight back the tears as the ESPN broadcast asked her what it meant to have a celebration of the WNBA’s evolution on her home court.
No. 30 hit the game winner at the buzzer in the Los Angeles Sparks’ 98-97 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday night in a game commemorating the league’s 30th season and honoring all the legends in the building who helped the franchise survive to this point. It was all too much for the 15-year veteran to process during her live interview minutes after the victory. Thus, the overflow of emotion.
“It feels really good,” Ogwumike said as she choked up. “It’s emotional seeing all of these legends in the building. People who didn’t get paid their value, and they’re still coming here and supporting us. I’m so grateful.”
The passage of time was omnipresent for the Sparks and Liberty. Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton lined up at center court for the pregame tipoff, just as they did for the WNBA’s debut game on this date in 1997. Los Angeles legends DeLisha Milton-Jones and Tamecka Dixon were at Sparks practice Saturday, and the New York Liberty welcomed original roster members Hampton, Sue Wicks, Teresa Weatherspoon and Vickie Johnson at their walk-through.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7382043/2026/06/21/wnba-30th-anniversary-game-buzzer-beater-nneka-ogwumike/