The LA Sparks-New York Liberty game on Sunday wasn’t just a contest between two stacked rosters. Instead, it was a tribute to the WNBA’s legacy over the past thirty years. And for all the money, Sparks veteran Nneka Ogwumike made it a bit more special for her and her team with a game winner in the dying seconds of the matchup.

“It feels so good,” Ogwumike said. “It’s emotional seeing all these legends in the building. People that didn’t get paid value, and they’re still coming here and supporting us. I’m grateful.”

To be specific, it was on the same day, 30 years ago, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, that these two teams marked the dawn of a women’s basketball league that we now know as the WNBA. Thus, it was only fitting that the league’s Pearl Anniversary celebrations take place in California, with the same two teams squaring off.

The game didn’t disappoint either. In a highly intense back-and-forth game, it was the LA Sparks who played second fiddle most of the game. That’s when Ogwumike stepped up with a game-winner in the dying seconds of the game to seal a home win for her team. The enormity of the shot on such a high-stakes night was definitely emotional for the Sparks, even prompting her to fight back her tears during the postgame interview.

Nneka Ogwumike’s emotional assessment stems from the hardships the WNBA has faced over the past three decades. The lucrative million-dollar contracts that we’re seeing now were kind of a fable during those years. In fact, the league’s average salary in its inaugural season was just $32,500, as per Tucson.com.

Yet despite that, players like Lisa Leslie and Rebecca Lobo never lost hope and continued serving the league.

They paved the blueprint for the current players to literally run and even fly by their own merit. And who better to understand those hardships than the WNBPA president, Ogwumike herself, who fought tirelessly for players’ benefits during the CBA discussions in the offseason?

Thus, with greats like Leslie in the building itself during the game, it was a kind gesture from Ogwumike to give those players their props. Meanwhile, Ogwumike also made sure these greats remained thoroughly entertained throughout the game.

The Sparks forward exploded for 24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals on the night. She scored 11 of 18 from the field and 2 of 4 from deep, as per ESPN. And of course, who can forget that stellar three-pointer with just 0.2 seconds remaining in the game?

The NY Liberty led 97-95 at that point, as the Sparks seemed to be moving toward another defeat. But Erica Wheeler initiated a quick play and drove aggressively towards the paint and found Ogwumike, who adjusted herself from the three-point line to clutch a 25-foot three-point jumper to clinch a 97-98 win for her team.

“Everywhere I go, she (Wheeler) seems to find me,” Ogwumike said while speaking of her game-winner. “Whether it’s on the team and even it’s on the court, and she stays in my ear.”

Nneka Ogwumike’s hot night helped the LA Sparks bridge a 10-point deficit that they had conceded right after the first quarter. It was a stellar performance from her to get the Sparks back to winning ways, and she even got her teammates hyped.

Erica Wheeler Gives Nneka Ogwumike Her Props for Her Game-Winner in the Dying Seconds

Scoring a game-winner against all odds against a tough NY Liberty defense is never easy. Especially with the pressure that comes with it, every decision comes down to a split second. But for Erica Wheeler, her final pass to Nneka Ogwumike seems to be a no-brainer because of the latter’s stature.

“The play was to get KP on a crackback,” Wheeler said, as per SportsCenter. “But as you know, KP creates gravity, and the moment I saw Nneka, I was up in the air to make a decision to see her clear open. I knew it was good. Her feet got set in. It’s Nneka, man. She’s going to be in the Hall of Fame…I knew it was going in.”

Wheeler herself dropped a decent performance on the night. She recorded 15 points in 26 minutes. Kelsey Plum had a rare off night from the deep as she went just 1 of 7, finishing her night with just 12 points. Rae Burrell made a good contribution from the bench, adding 19 points and dishing out 4 assists.

The NY Liberty never made it easy, though. They were formidable on offense with Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Satou Sabally, Pauline Astier, Marine Johannes, and Leonie Fiebich scoring in double figures. But Ogwumike eventually proved to be the decisive factor in the game, handing Liberty their second consecutive defeat.

The LA Sparks are now 8-8 in the season, sitting 5th in the Western Conference. Their next game is an away fixture against the Toronto Tempo on June 25 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.