What happened: Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton reunited to recreate the ceremonial tip-off from the WNBA's inaugural game, staged ahead of a New York Liberty–Los Angeles Sparks matchup carried on ESPN. The recreation honors the league's origins as part of a Court Origins tribute. Both players were on the floor for the WNBA's first games when the league launched in 1997.

Why it matters: The moment links the modern WNBA back to its founding figures, with Lisa Leslie, a Day-one cornerstone of the Sparks, and Kym Hampton among the faces of the inaugural season. Marking the league's beginnings underscores how far the WNBA has grown in visibility and reach. The Liberty and Sparks were both part of that original era, making the pairing a fitting backdrop.

What to watch: The tribute leads into the Liberty–Sparks broadcast on ESPN, with more origin-focused programming expected around the matchup.