The WNBA has experienced exponential success over the years as it continues to ride the wave of its rising popularity, driven by its growing roster of bankable stars and the growth of women’s basketball as a whole.
Last year’s class of rookies, led by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, and Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink, helped usher in arguably the peak of the WNBA. The league enjoyed record numbers in viewership, attendance, and merchandise.
The league welcomed its latest expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries, this season. Two more are set to join next year as the WNBA is pressing full steam ahead.
But as they say, one cannot move forward without looking back. Which begs the question: When was the first-ever game in the WNBA played?
First-Ever WNBA Game
The league’s inaugural game happened on June 21, 1997 between the Los Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.
As ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel noted in a report, it was logical for the WNBA to tip off with its two biggest markets. More than 14,000 people trooped to the venue, including Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who is now part of the ownership group of the Sparks. The game was aired on NBC.
The much-anticipated matchup featured a battle between the Sparks’ Lisa Leslie and the Liberty’s Rebecca Lobo, two of the WNBA’s top centers. They were already familiar with each other as they were teammates on Team USA.
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The face-off between the Sparks’ Penny Toler and the Liberty’s Teresa Weatherspoon, two competitive point guards, was also interesting.
“I might have only slept two or three hours the night before because of the excitement. I was just hoping not to be tired at tipoff. But I think my energy came on because I knew something incredible was happening right now,” said Toler in the report.
“I didn’t know it at the time. But looking back on it, it’s an honor I love to have. There can only be one first basket.”
#TBT In 1997, Penny Toler scored the first basket in #WNBA history 🏀 pic.twitter.com/o6RvVGpdEn
— WNBA (@WNBA) February 4, 2021
Toler etched her name in the WNBA’s history books, which began as an eight-team league, after scoring the first-ever basket.
Liberty Defeated Sparks For First-Ever WNBA Win
At that time, the game was still played in two halves. At the break, New York held a slim advantage, 33-26.
Los Angeles kept the game close in the second half and tried to wrest the lead. The Liberty, however, refused to budge and kept the Sparks at bay.
When the smoke cleared, New York held on for the win, 67-57. Lobo led the way with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Weatherspoon only scored three points but had 10 assists and four steals.
“The game itself, I remember us winning, which was important. But there was just so much around it that was even a bigger memory to me than some of the things that happened on the court,” said Lobo.
WNBA legends @LisaLeslie, @KymHampton, @Finisher_11, Penny Toler, and Sue Wicks reminisce playing in the first ever WNBA game! 📺💭 #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/H7MUlyXY1v
— WNBA (@WNBA) March 15, 2019
Leslie starred for Los Angeles in a losing effort, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds on top of two blocks. Toler chipped in 15 markers and four assists.
The Liberty held the Sparks to just 30.9% shooting from the field, while also forcing 25 turnovers. New York also moved the ball well, tallying 21 assists.
First-Ever WNBA Champion
With Lobo and Weatherspoon spearheading the charge, the Liberty went all the way to the WNBA Finals. They, however, fell short of capturing the league’s first-ever championship.
They lost to the Houston Comets in the do-or-die title game, 65-51. Shooting guard Cynthia Cooper, who was adjudged regular season MVP, was also named Finals MVP.
It took 27 years before the Liberty finally won the crown, capturing it last season after beating the Minnesota Lynx in five games.
While the wait was agonizing for New York, it was truly worth it, especially when looking back on that historic day in 1997.
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