On a night honoring the WNBA's first-ever contest, Nneka Ogwumike delivered a dramatic conclusion. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the New York Liberty 98-97 thanks to Ogwumike's three pointer in the final moments, sparking wild celebrations among 18,043 fans at Crypto.com Arena.

Selected first overall by the Sparks in 2012, Ogwumike earned MVP honors in 2016 during the team's third championship run. After two seasons with the Seattle Storm in 2024 and 2025, she rejoined Los Angeles this year. She also serves as longtime players' association president and played a central role in securing the 2020 and recent collective bargaining agreements.

"It's emotional seeing all these legends in the building," Ogwumike said to ESPN while wiping tears. "People that didn't get paid their value, and they're still coming here and supporting us. I'm so grateful."

The Sparks and Liberty, both among the league's original eight franchises, met in the WNBA's first game on June 21, 1997. Though nearly three decades have passed, the league's 30th anniversary prompted Sunday's event featuring many former players from both teams. Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, who won two titles across 12 seasons with the Sparks, expressed thanks to supporters at halftime.

The inaugural matchup occurred at the Forum in Inglewood, California, where Leslie posted 16 points and 14 rebounds in a 67-57 defeat to Rebecca Lobo and the Liberty. Lobo, who recorded 16 points and 6 rebounds that day, served as the ESPN game analyst Sunday.

For much of the contest, the Liberty seemed poised to win once more. They held a 12-point halftime advantage and stretched the lead to 17 points during the third quarter. Yet the Sparks gradually closed the gap.

Ogwumike knotted the score at 93 on a three pointer with 1:27 remaining. After New York pushed ahead 96-93, Los Angeles' Rae Burrell sank two free throws with 10.3 seconds left. Breanna Stewart converted one of two free throws to make it 97-95, setting up guard Erica Wheeler to locate Ogwumike beyond the arc. She drained her second three of the evening to finish with a team-high 24 points.

"Everyone in our locker room wouldn't have picked another person to hit that shot," Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said of Ogwumike, who was seven years old shortly after the league's first game.

"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."