LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Candace Parker scored 28 points and Nneka Ogwumke drained the game-winning basket with 3.1 seconds remaining Thursday as the Los Angeles Sparks downed the Minnesota Lynx 77-76 to win the Women’s NBA title.
The victory in Minneapolis gave the Sparks a 3-2 triumph in the best-of-five championship series and their first WNBA crown since 2002.
They denied the Lynx a fourth championship in six years.
Ogwumike, who earned Most Valuable Player honors this season, scored from short range to put the Sparks back in front in the back-and-forth battle.
A desperation shot by Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen fell short at the buzzer.
Ogwumike finished with 12.