Nneka Ogwumike drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift LA past New York 98-97 on Sunday, completing a 17-point Liberty vs Sparks comeback in front of the home crowd.
With eight seconds left and LA trailing by two, Erica Wheeler drove down the court and kicked the ball out to Ogwumike beyond the arc. The WNBA veteran released the shot, which subsequently splashed through as time expired.
The Liberty controlled most of the game after the first quarter, building a 17-point lead in the third. The Sparks chased them down in the fourth, with Ogwumike scoring eight of her 24 points in the final two minutes.
Before the game-winner, Breanna Stewart missed one of two free-throws to leave the door open. Ogwumike walked through it.
"It's Nneka, man. She's going to be [in the] Hall of Fame. She's presidential. I knew it was going in, man," Wheeler said postgame.
The Liberty vs Sparks matchup headlined the WNBA's 30th anniversary celebration. Sunday also marked a "Court Origins" night honoring the league's original franchises, with legends Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton in attendance.
Ogwumike led all scorers with 24 points, while Rae Burrell added 19 off the bench. The Sparks are now 8-for-8 on the season.
