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Pop Quiz: How well does Rebecca Lobo remember the first WNBA game?

By Russell Steinberg

21 Jun 1997: Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Rebecca Lobo of the New York Liberty stand on the court at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Liberty won the game 67-57.
21 Jun 1997: Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Rebecca Lobo of the New York Liberty stand on the court at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Liberty won the game 67-57. /
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WNBA Women’s basketball Basketball legend Rebecca Lobo played a key role in the first-ever WNBA game, scoring 16 points as her Liberty defeated the Sparks in Los Angeles. On the 20th anniversary of the historic first game, how well does she remember it? Lobo took a quick quiz for The Summitt to test her memory.

1. Can you name the Liberty’s starting five from that game?

LOBO: Lobo, Weatherspoon, Witherspoon, Johnson, Hampton

Correct: Yes, Theresa Weatherspoon and Sophia Witherspoon started together. I hope the Liberty apologized to every play-by-play broadcaster that season.

2. Which team won the opening tip?

LOBO: LA won the ceremonial tip. NY won the real tip.

Partial credit: LA actually won both the ceremonial and real tip-offs. Former WNBA president Val Ackerman conducted a ceremonial tip-off before the game, then it officially began when Lisa Leslie won the won the tip over Kym Hampton to start the game. This, despite Hampton claiming here that she won it. Proof can be found at the :52 mark of this video.

3. Everyone remembers Penny Toler scoring the first basket. Who had the first assist?

LOBO: Tamika Dixon

Incorrect: Jamila Wideman actually recorded the first assist.

4. Who hit the first three?

LOBO: Witherspoon?

Incorrect: Rhonda Blades hit the first three.

5. With 18:30 to play in the first half, you had the first WHAT in WNBA history?

LOBO: I wish it was a block. But probably a travel or some other kind of turnover.

I’ll give you credit: It was the first block, but clearly Lobo is just too humble.

6. What was the score at halftime?

LOBO: Not enough to not enough

Technically correct, but I can’t count it: The Liberty led 33-26 halfway through an ugly game.

7. What was the final score?

LOBO: Same answer as above (I remember it being an anemic offensive game.)

Also technically correct, but I can’t count it: The Liberty won 67-57.

8. How many points did you finish with? How many rebounds?

LOBO: I don’t know. But I was the player of the game (-:

Incorrect, and I’m rethinking the humble comment above: Lobo finished with 16 points and six rebounds.

9. What were the two other matchups that day?

LOBO: Houston v Phoenix? And I’d like to think it was Cleveland v Charlotte.

Incorrect: Houston beat Cleveland and Sacramento beat Utah

10. Who did the Liberty play in their second game?

LOBO: Phoenix?

Incorrect: The Liberty won at Sacramento in their second game.

BONUS QUESTION: Lastly, and obviously there’s no right answer here, what memory or memories stand out the most from that first game?

LOBO: I mostly remember playing in the Forum. I grew up a huge Celtics fan and watched all the televised battles between Bird’s Celts and Magic’s Lakers. In person the Forum looked exactly the way it did on TV. I think it’s a mega-church now. Not sure what the lesson is there…but I’m sure there is one.

RESULT: 2.5/10. Rebecca Lobo does not seem to remember much from the early days of the WNBA. I guess this is what happens when you play in literally hundreds of games and are asked to recall obscure details from one that’s 20 years old.

CONSOLATION PRIZE: Still being a lot taller than me.

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