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WNBA·June 20, 2026 05:43 PM ET

WNBA reopens the photo album to its first game: Sparks-Liberty, June 21, 1997

The league looks back nearly 30 years.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 201 min read
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Los Angeles SparksWNBA
Let's open the photo album back to 30 years 📸 @LASparks v @nyliberty, June 21, 1997 at The Great Western Forum in Ingle

What happened: The WNBA shared a throwback to June 21, 1997, revisiting the Los Angeles Sparks against the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The post frames the matchup as a glimpse into the league's earliest days, almost three decades on.

Why it matters: That 1997 date marks the very start of the WNBA, the foundation for a league now celebrating its 30th season. Pointing back to the Forum underscores how far women's professional basketball has traveled from its inaugural tipoff to today.

What to watch: Expect more #WNBASeason30 retrospectives as the league threads anniversary callbacks through the current 2026 campaign.

Sources

  • @WNBA 
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