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Ogwumike's Buzzer-Beater Gives Sparks 98-97 Win in WNBA 30th-Anniversary Rematch

The game-ending 3 capped a 17-point comeback and underscored how player leadership and new labor deals have reshaped the league.

Overview

  • Nneka Ogwumike hit a buzzer‑beating three to lift the Los Angeles Sparks to a 98-97 victory over the New York Liberty, a game that concluded the WNBA’s 30th‑anniversary rematch.
  • The shot completed a comeback from as much as 17 points down and came after Ogwumike scored 24 points with six rebounds and three steals.
  • The event drew a sellout crowd of 18,043 to Crypto.com Arena and featured ceremonial moments with pioneers such as Lisa Leslie recreating the league’s original tip‑off.
  • Ogwumike was emotional after the win and her postgame comments highlighted the contrast between early low pay and the current era of improved compensation negotiated by the WNBPA.
  • The game served as a marker of the league’s recent structural growth, which coverage ties to the 2026 CBA that raised player pay and revenue sharing plus reported large media deals and the addition of new franchises.