Sparks, Liberty meet on anniversary of WNBA's inaugural game

The league's first two rivals replay opening night.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 211 min read

WNBA history comes full circle tonight ✨ On June 21, 1997, the WNBA tipped off with Sparks vs. Liberty 🏀 Twenty-nine y

What happened: The Los Angeles Sparks visit the New York Liberty tonight at 8 PM ET as part of a three-game slate. The matchup falls 29 years to the day after the same two franchises played the WNBA's first game on June 21, 1997. The league is marking the date as a Court Origins night.

Why it matters: Both clubs are founding WNBA franchises, which gives the anniversary meeting added weight beyond the standings. The Liberty enter at 12-6 and the Sparks at 9-8, so the result carries real positioning stakes in a tight 2026 regular season. Pairing the on-court game with the 1997 milestone ties the league's present to its origins.

By the numbers: New York enters 12-6, scoring 88.2 per game and allowing 83.2, with its biggest win 106-75 over Connecticut. Los Angeles sits 9-8, scoring 87.6 and allowing 88.4. The Liberty have dropped their last game (streak L1); the Sparks have lost two straight (L2).

What to watch: Tip-off is set for 8 PM ET, with the Court Origins presentation framing the night around the franchises' shared history.

Sources

@Winsidr Jun 21, 10:48 AM ET

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Sparks, Liberty meet on anniversary of WNBA's inaugural game

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