What happened: The Los Angeles Sparks pointed to their place as one of the WNBA's Day-one franchises, looking back to Lisa Leslie's pre-game arrival and the team's locker room ahead of tip-off in 1997. The Sparks have been part of the league since its opening season.

Why it matters: Los Angeles is one of the original WNBA franchises dating to 1997, and Leslie became the face of the team and a cornerstone of the early league. Anchoring the club to that founding era underscores how long the Sparks have shaped the WNBA's identity.

What to watch: The Sparks continue their 2026 regular season as the league marks the distance from its 1997 debut.