What made Sparks legend Nneka Ogwumike’s game-winner vs. Liberty extra special

Sunday night marked a momentous occasion for the WNBA, as the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty faced off against one another in the league’s 30th Anniversary Game. It looked as though the Liberty were going to waltz to a routine victory, but the Sparks had other ideas — with Nneka Ogwumike winning it for LA at the buzzer, 98-97, with a game-winning triple.

Ogwumike finished with 24 points on the night, and the 35-year-old remains ageless on the court, still swishing the ball through the net the same way she did when she first became a member of the Sparks franchise all the way back in 2012.

Winning it for her beloved Sparks was already sweet enough on its own, especially on such a historic occasion. It was even more special for the veteran forward considering the people who were in attendance at Crypto.com Arena.

“It feels really good. I’ve been with the Sparks for so long. It’s emotional seeing all these legends in the building. People that didn’t get paid their value and they’re still coming here and supporting us. I’m so grateful,” Ogwumike said in her postgame interview with ESPN.

"It's emotional seeing all these legends in the building. People that didn't get paid their value and they're still coming here and supporting us." @nnekaogwumike was extremely "grateful" after hitting her game-winner in the 30th anniversary game pic.twitter.com/Ujz334WEg4

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 22, 2026

One of the greatest players in WNBA history and the all-time leading scorer for the Sparks franchise, Lisa Leslie, was in attendance on Sunday night. So were Teresa Weatherspoon and DeLisha Milton-Jones. Ogwumike certainly must have grown up watching them pave the way for the WNBA, and she has to be honored to continue passing on the torch to the next generation of superstars.

Ogwumike has become a legend herself; she’s a former MVP, a 10-time All-Star, and a WNBA champion. She may have spent a few years away from the Sparks, but she’s back right where she belongs — even hitting game-winners under the bright lights against the toughest opposition imaginable.

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