New York Daily News

Like old times

Liberty has L.A.’s number, 24 years later

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LOS ANGELES — Nearly 24 years to the day that the Liberty tipped off the WNBA with a victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, Rebecca Allen made sure that the Liberty prevailed again.

Allen scored a season-high 17 points and blocked two shots in the final minute of the Liberty’s 76-73 victory on Sunday in what was billed as “The ’97 Game” by the WNBA. The inaugural game was played on June 21, 1997, at the Great Western Forum, which the Liberty won, 67-57.

The Liberty, Los Angeles and the Phoenix Mercury are the league’s three remaining original teams.

“It means a lot to play in the game and get the win,” said Liberty center Kylee Shook, who pulled down 11 rebounds. “Just for the fact that the people who built this before I got here, it’s an amazing league to be in.”

The Liberty held a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter, but saw Los Angeles go on a 21-7 run to tie it, 58-58, going into the final 10 minutes. Allen blocked a potential goahead 3-pointer by Kristi Toliver with 8.2 seconds remaining. She hit a pair of free throws after a loose ball foul by Toliver to give the Liberty a three-point advantage.

Sami Whitcomb scored 17 and Betnijah Laney 14 for the Liberty, which won despite committing a WNBA season-high 30 turnovers but scored 19 points off offensive rebounds.

Los Angeles had a chance to send it into overtime, but Nia Coffey missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Erica Wheeler scored 20 points with 10 assists for the Sparks while Coffey and Toliver scored 15 apiece.

“I’m definitely proud to be a part of the league. It’s special to be in Los Angeles with the team itself, the history that they have created so being here means a lot,” Wheeler said. “I’m just thankful that I’m on this team and in a league that’s celebratin­g its 25th anniversar­y.”

The game was played at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Sparks are playing at the Convention Center instead of their usual home at Staples Center until after the Olympic break after the arena was reserved for playoff runs by both the Lakers and Clippers.

While 14,284 fans watched the first game at the Forum, only 731 viewed Sunday’s game due to the limited capacity.

“Just to think about the history of this league and where it is only 25 years into its existence it’s amazing,” Sparks coach and GM Derek Fisher said. “I think the league office is working really hard to grow the game on the global stage. And, you know, we just have to keep doing the work.”

The league has 12 teams this season, but many are hoping to see expansion in upcoming seasons. Nneka Ogwumike, the president of the WNBA Players Associatio­n, said one of her hopes is that the league could eventually have teams in every city that has an NBA franchise.

 ?? AP ?? In a flashback, Los Angeles Sparks’ Lisa Leslie boxes out Liberty’s Rebecca Lobo in WNBA’s first game ever, 24 years ago today. Teams get together again Sunday in Los Angeles, with Liberty again coming out on top.
AP In a flashback, Los Angeles Sparks’ Lisa Leslie boxes out Liberty’s Rebecca Lobo in WNBA’s first game ever, 24 years ago today. Teams get together again Sunday in Los Angeles, with Liberty again coming out on top.

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