With only four games left and eliminated from playoff contention, there is not much for Sparks fans to get excited about on the court.
Thankfully, two events are happening in the final home games that will add some juice inside crypto.com Arena: Lisa Leslie’s statue unveiling and Nneka Ogwumike’s final game.
On Sunday, Sept. 20, when LA plays the Portland Fire, the Sparks will unveil Leslie’s statue, making her the first player in franchise history to achieve that honor.
That makes this moment not just
a great one for Leslie, but a historic one for the Sparks. Her statue being at Star Plaza alongside legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Jerry West breaks another barrier. It demonstrates what’s possible for Sparks players, WNBA athletes and women who play in LA overall. Nothing can’t be accomplished.
Leslie is already a Hall of Famer, a two-time WNBA champion and has her jersey hanging in the rafters. Now, her statue will greet fans as they enter the iconic stadium.
Ogwumike’s return to the Sparks didn’t result in the homecoming fans envisioned. However, she’s played very well, averaging 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Ogwumike also gave Sparks fans the best moment of the season, hitting a game-winner against the New York Liberty in the Court Origins game, the signature game scheduled to celebrate the WNBA’s 30th anniversary season.
Appropriately, Leslie, one of the players who competed in that first-ever WNBA game in June 1997, was there to celebrate the moment with Nneka.
Ogwumike announced her retirement back in August, giving everyone a chance to give her her flowers before she calls it a career.
LA will take on the Golden State Valkyries on Sept. 24 in Ogwumike’s final game, and it’s certain to be a must-see event.
It’s unknown what the Sparks have planned, but they will most certainly pull out all the stops to celebrate her career. Expect some great speeches, a touching tribute and a who’s who of basketball royalty in attendance for this final game.
This may not be the ending to 2026 Sparks fans wanted, but it can still be a positive one. The penultimate home game will unveil Leslie’s statue, and the finale, Ogwumike’s last game, will ensure the year ends in celebration and joy for what these legends accomplished, instead of wallowing in self-pity for the season that was 2026.
