Fresh off their win in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals over the Minnesota Lynx, the 2016 champion Los Angeles Sparks celebrated with fans at LA Live, a premier Los Angeles entertainment and sports district.
At the event, the final three plays of Game 5 were replayed, one of which being WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike’s game-winning shot which lifted the Sparks to the 77-76 victory. The fans in attendance cheered as if it were happening all over again.
Prior to the celebration in Los Angeles, Sparks players themselves supposedly rewatched Game 5 “about 7 times” since winning the championship.
In addition to the Sparks’ players and coaches, team owner Stan Kasten and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti also were in attendance.
This is just an example of our players back here showing a lot of resiliency and being persistent.
Several of the players also took the podium to address the crowd at L.A. Live—one of them being Ana Dabovic, who mentioned the significance of the championship for those who look up to the Sparks players.
We made little girls play basketball.
If those little girls who played basketball watched the Sparks throughout the season, they also took notice of Jantel Lavender’s contributions. She had high praise for this team when speaking at the podium in Los Angeles.
I just have so much emotion and so much joy because I’ve been part of so many different teams, and this is by far the best team I’ve ever played with.
Also speaking at the festivities was the team’s three-point specialist Kristi Toliver. She credited Candace Parker for being the reason why she dons the purple and gold of the Sparks. Toliver also made mention of those WNBA players that came before her.
I also want to recognize the other teams that we’ve had. Because, without the Tina Thompsons, the Ticha Penecheiros, the Ebony Hoffmans, we don’t have this. It takes—it’s a journey.
–Kristi Toliver
As for the team’s defensive specialist, Alana Beard, her remarks centered on her 13-year journey to this point as well as how grueling the series was with the Lynx.
We put every part of us into this series. It was some of the most intense games I’ve ever been a part of and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
–Alana Beard
Then it was Nneka Ogwumike’s turn at the podium. In addition to speaking about the Sparks’ journey through the season, which included Parker being left off of the Olympic team, she also took a moment to look back on her career-particularly her transition from being a collegiate player at Stanford to entering the WNBA.
“I felt zero transition when I came from The Bay to LA. I felt zero transition because the support has been unwavering. It’s been amazing.”
The championship was also a huge moment for Parker herself as it was the first of her WNBA career. She was also named Finals MVP.
“It is our pleasure to bring this [championship trophy] back to LA where it should be.”
One thing was a constant in all of the remarks delivered—thanking the fans of the Sparks for their continued support of the team.
(Video credits: Full Image 360/Jevone Moore)
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
