The 17-Point Comeback That Has the WNBA Buzzing, But Our Storm Are Still Stuck in the Basement

Alright, Emerald City! You gotta talk about this, even if it hurts a little. While our beloved Storm are still chilling down in the WNBA basement, the league just pulled off one of those "you had to see it to believe it" moments. Seriously, the Los Angeles Sparks, on the 30th anniversary of the WNBA's *first ever game*, came back from a ridiculous 17-point deficit to snatch a win at the buzzer. Nneka Ogwumike? She absolutely drilled a game-winner that had arenas erupting, and yeah, we felt that energy even up here in Seattle.

Nneka Ogwumike's Buzzer-Beater Was Pure Chaos and Magic

Can we talk about that Sparks-Liberty game for a minute? It wasn't just any game, folks. This was the 30th anniversary showdown between the two teams who kicked off the WNBA back on June 21, 1997. Sunday? Oh, Sunday was different. The Sparks were trailing by double digits in the first quarter, then they were down by as many as 17 points in the third. Seventeen points! They clawed their way back, took the lead late in the fourth, then the Liberty snatched it back, going up by two with only 8.6 seconds left. No timeouts, the clock ticking, and Erica Wheeler pushing the ball up the court. They tried a hammer action to get Kelsey Plum open, but the Liberty defenders were all over her. And who was left wide open on the wing? Nneka Ogwumike! Wheeler hit her, Ogwumike set her feet, let it fly, and it was nothing but net as the buzzer sounded. The arena went absolutely wild, Nneka's teammates mobbed her, and Sparks

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legend Lisa Leslie, who played in that *first game* 29 years ago, was courtside celebrating.

League-Wide Shakeups and the Storm's Tough Start

And Ogwumike? She was in tears, man, emotional. Not just because of the shot, but because of what it meant. She's the WNBPA president, remember, helping finalize that historic new collective bargaining agreement. She talked about "people that didn't get paid their value" still supporting them. This shot was more than just two points; it was a moment, a legacy. It's what sports can do. While all that drama was unfolding, the rest of the league keeps grinding. The Aces are still number one, even after their six-game winning streak got stomped with an embarrassing 30-point loss to the Wings, prompting Becky Hammon to throw a clipboard. They bounced back with two double-digit wins though. The Lynx choked a six-point lead to the Mystics in the final two and a half minutes, which sent the Mystics surging up to number five in the power rankings. But for us, the big news that stings a little? Our Seattle Storm are still stuck right there in the basement. Yeah, that part hurts to write. So, yeah, the WNBA is bringing the heat this season, from buzzer-beaters to clipboard-throwing coaches. You can catch more action, like Mercury at Tempo and Sparks at Fever, this Saturday on Paramount+ or CBS, because they're showing a record 20 games this year. While we're celebrating these incredible moments from across the league, you gotta believe our Storm will find their stride. We're waiting, Emerald City, for our own comeback story. Let's get out of that basement!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.