Sparks Nneka Ogwumike (30) is hugged by her teammates after taking the winning shot in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks Nneka Ogwumike (30) reacts after taking the game winning three point shot in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks Nneka Ogwumike (30) reacts after taking a three point shot in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game to defeat the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) drives to the basket in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks Dearica Hamby (5) signs a jersey for a young fan prior to the start of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) takes a three point shot over New York Liberty guard Pauline Astier (18) in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard Ariel Atkins (7) blocks a shot by New York Liberty guard Rebekah Gardner (7) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) takes a shot past Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) takes a shot past New York Liberty center Han Xu (21) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) drives to the basket in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Lonescu (20) drives past Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) takes a shot in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard Ariel Atkins (7) takes a shot in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) takes a shot past New York Liberty guard Rebekah Gardner (7) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) takes a three point shot in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) takes a shot over New York Liberty guard Pauline Astier (18) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
WNBA legend Lisa Leslie smiles prior to the start of a WNBA basketball game between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) rebounds the ball in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks Nneka Ogwumike (30) reacts after taking the game winning three point shot in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) takes a shot past New York Liberty guard Pauline Astier (18) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
New York Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco looks on in the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) takes a shot past New York Liberty defenders in the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumikein (30) takes a shot over New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Sparks Nneka Ogwumike (30) celebrates with her teammates after taking the game winning three point shot in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
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Sparks Nneka Ogwumike (30) is hugged by her teammates after taking the winning shot in the final seconds of the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter and drained a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to lead the Sparks to a 98-97 comeback victory against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, in a contest that celebrated the league’s 30th season.
“It feels great obviously,” Ogwumike said. “I’m really immersed in my teammates mostly. Obviously, there’s a sense of relief to know that shot went in. It’s a contagious feeling to want to continue to be great.”
“What a great moment and the perfect person hit that,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts added.
The Sparks trailed by 12 points at halftime and 17 points early in the third quarter but stormed back by having six players reach double figures in the scoring column.
“We have a team that has a deep number of people that can contribute,” Ogwumike said. “Even though we have a lot of really great, 1-on-1 players, I think we’re able to thrive more when we’re able to move the ball.”
Nneka Ogwumike on her buzzer beating game-winning 3-pointer in the Sparks’ 98-97 win against the New York Liberty. pic.twitter.com/BJJxPv48ap
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 22, 2026
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts and guards Rae Burrell and Erica Wheeler on the team’s rallying from down 17 points to pull off a 98-97 comeback victory against the New York Liberty. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/SI0oZ2gh5n
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 22, 2026
Guard Rae Burrell scored 19 points on her 26th birthday.
“That’s always the goal is to contribute in whatever way that is,” Burrell said. “Come in and bring some energy and bring that aggression.”
Erica Wheeler scored 15 points.
“I think we did it on offense and defense,” Wheeler said.
Kelsey Plum, who played after missing the previous game with a leg injury, and Dearica Hamby both scored 12 points apiece. Ariel Atkins had 10 points.
“I just need KP to be KP,” Roberts said before the game. “She’s the engine and she generates so much gravity when she has the ball. She’s an unselfish scorer as counterintuitive as that sounds.”
The Sparks improved to 8-8 overall and are now 7-0 when Plum records seven or more assists.
“I know she knows it can’t just be her,” Roberts continued. “She’s looking to get others involved. That’s what we need tonight from her.”
PREGAME: Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts on the franchise’s championship legacy, playing against the New York Liberty without Cameron Brink and Kelsey Plum’s impact on winning after missing one game with a leg injury. pic.twitter.com/IP9KX2M1tv
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 22, 2026
The Liberty (11-6) are on a two-game losing streak. They also had six players reach double figures in the scoring column: Breanna Stewart (18), Jonquel Jones (18), Pauline Astier (17), Satou Sabally (14), Leonie Fiebich (13), Marine Johannes (10).
However, Liberty All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu was held to two points on 1-of-3 shooting in 22 minutes.
Wheeler’s fast break layup cut the Liberty’s lead to 76-70 heading into the fourth quarter. The Sparks outscored the Liberty by a 27-21 margin in the third quarter. Ariel Atkins’ reverse layup cut it to 76-72 early in the fourth.
“Getting stops,” Ogwumike said when asked about the second half surge. “Boxing out and getting rebounds. Just a concerted effort for each possession and then also playing with pace and space, which is I think really where we thrive and I think we did a really good eating into that lead doing that.”
Hamby’s layup cut it to 84-81 with 6:12 to go. Wheeler’s 3-pointer tied the game at 84. Sabally made 1 of 2 free throws to go up 85-84. Plum’s full-court pass to Ogwumike for a layup gave the Sparks an 86-85 lead with 3:50 to go, the team’s first advantage since early in the first quarter. Ogwumike’s next bucket put them up 88-85. Jones’ 3-pointer tied the game at 88. Breanna Stewart’s layup made it 90-88. Ogwumike’s layup tied it at 90.
Astier’s three-point play made it 93-90. Ogwumike’s 3-pointer tied it at 93. Astier made both free throws to go up 95-93. Burrell missed a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than a minute to go. However, the Sparks forced a shot clock violation and got the ball back with 33.3 seconds left in regulation. Plum’s potential go-ahead 3-pointer rimmed out with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Stewart was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws to go up 96-93 with 26.7 to go. Astier blocked Wheeler’s potential game-tying 3-pointer. However, Burrell was fouled and made both free throws and cut it to 96-95 with 10.3 seconds to go.
The Sparks challenged an out-of-bounds call, but it was not reversed in their favor with 10 seconds to go. Stewart missed the first but made the second of two free throws to go up 97-95 with nine seconds to go.
Meanwhile, the Liberty began the game with a starting lineup in which four of the five players were taller than the entire Sparks active roster. Sabally, Stewart, Jones, and Fiebich are all at least 6-foot-4. They used that length to slow down the Sparks’ pace-and-space offense.
“You have to do the job on (Kelsey) Plum,” Liberty first-year coach Chris Demarco said, “and then offensively we have to use our size to get offensive rebounds to create opportunities at the free throw line to take care of mismatches.”
Meanwhile, Kiana Williams, the Sparks’ newly signed backup point guard, checked in early, with 4:36 left in the first quarter. Williams scored two points.
Rookie forward Laura Ziegler, who is currently on a developmental contract, checked in for the first time in her professional career, with 1:16 left in the first.
“I think that’s very clear in this league you need to play defense,” Ziegler said. “You have to come in and you have to be able to keep your man in front of you.”
Ziegler finished with four points in 10 minutes.
“She’s always in the right spot,” Roberts added. “Always and that can make up for a lot of things.”
Sparks forward Laura Ziegler on making her WNBA debut and helping the LA Sparks beat the NY Liberty 98-97 to celebrate the league’s 30th season. pic.twitter.com/ew3sss5NMb
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 22, 2026
Johannes drained a 3-pointer before the buzzer, which put the road team up 28-18 heading into the second quarter.
Atkins’ bounce pass to Hamby, which she finished with a layup, cut the Liberty’s lead to 36-32 with 5:45 left in the second.
However, the Liberty regained control and led 55-43 at halftime. Sabally had 11 points. Johannes had 10 points. Plum scored nine points in the first half.
WNBA’s 30th anniversary celebration
“I love where the game is,” Sparks all-time leading scorer Lisa Leslie said. “I love that we’re seeing the game played at a faster pace.”
“But if you want to win the game, you can’t just hang your hat on the offensive side,” Sparks legend DeLisha Milton-Jones added. “You have to bring something defensively, and I think creative adjustments could be made to be able to stymie whatever it is that your opponents are trying to bring offensively.”
Up next
The Sparks will be off for several days before beginning a two-game road trip at Toronto on Thursday, June 25, and at Indiana on Saturday, June 27.
I’m breaking down the Los Angeles Sparks’ 98-97 win against the New York Liberty.
Nneka Ogwumike hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired and led six Sparks in double figures in the scoring column.
Rae Burrell scored 19 points on her 26th birthday. pic.twitter.com/llpBhDuhW4
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 22, 2026
Los Angeles Sparks legends DeLisha Milton Jones, Lisa Leslie and Tamecka Dixon’s press conference before the Sparks host the New York Liberty to celebrate the WNBA’s 30th anniversary on June 21, 2026. The first game was played on June 21, 1997.#wnba #lasparks #basketball pic.twitter.com/q6taFn7DZF
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 22, 2026