The WNBA hasn’t been around for very long, but the league already has its fair share of incredible moments. Let’s take a look back at some of the wildest, coolest, and most outlandish things to ever happen in the world of professional women’s basketball.
The First Points
Let’s start at the beginning! Back on June 21, 1997, the Forum in LA hosted the first-ever WNBA game. Penny Toler, the guard for the LA Sparks, scored the first points in the WNBA with 19:01 on the clock in front of over 14,000 live fans and on national TV. And like that, it was on.
Whitney Houston Singing the National Anthem
At the first-ever WNBA All-Star Game in 1999, Whitney Houston herself came out to sing the national anthem. That’s about as awesome as it gets, and, needless to say, she killed it. The US national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing well and Whitney Houston made it look downright easy in her red Adidas jumpsuit standing in the center of Madison Square Garden.
The Houston Comets Dominance
The dissolution of the Houston Comets in 2008 was one of the most visible and disappointing effects of the 2008 Great Recession. This was particularly unfortunate because the team was extremely decorated, having won the first four championships of the league and went completely undefeated in the finals.
“The Shot”
Speaking of that early Comets dominance, Teresa Weatherspoon’s 1999 shot against New York during the finals is the stuff of legends. T-Spoon, as fans know her, spoiled the Comets’ chances to win in Game 2 with only a hair over 2 seconds left on the clock. She winged the ball over her head and watched as it soared, just beating the buzzer, winning the game for the Liberty 68-67.
Lisa Leslie’s Dunk
Lisa Leslie’s tall stature made her one of the rare WNBA players who counted a slam dunk among her talents on the court. She busted this out for the first time in 2002 against the Miami Sol, when she kicked in some incredible speed to take a fast break to the hole and smash through with a one-handed dunk that made everyone say “oh, dang!”
Cappie Pondexter’s Fashion Sense
Why should sports and fashion not intersect? Seven-time All-Star Cappie Pondexter presented herself with her unique style unapologetically across her illustrious career. This helped to generate buzz for the entire league, as fans tuned in due to their favorite players’ personalities!
Lauren Jackson’s Arrival
Australian Lauren Jackson’s arrival to the league from Australia was a huge moment for the WNBA, as she brought in the concept of positionless playing and showed American team owners the depth of talent available overseas. Candace Parker has even said her style of play was influenced by Jackson.
Skylar Diggins-Smith Brings the WNBA to Social Media
Point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith is a social media whiz who has modernized the way the WNBA presents itself online. Her prominence as a huge personality both on and off the court helped elevate the league to the same level as the NBA, where players can become celebrities just for being good at basketball and being charming during interviews. That hadn’t been the case for the WNBA until Diggins-Smith’s arrival onto the scene.
The Hamby Heave
Dearica Hamby and the Aces were taking on the Sky in the playoffs when the veteran Ace got the steal across from a risky pass from Courtney Vandersloot to Diamond DeShields. Thinking there was less time on the clock than there really was, Hamby ignored her open teammate Sydney Colson, who was open, and went for a historic “heave” that saw Vegas beat Chicago 93-92.
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It’s Mainstream Now
Some people might still roll their eyes when fans discuss the WNBA, but they can get lost. The WNBA is mainstream now. It’s always been cool, but now more people than ever tune in to see their favorite players excel at the sport we all love. There’s nowhere for the league to go from here but up.
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