1999 WNBA Finals Game 2 - Liberty @ Comets - Greatest Finish Ever!
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2016
- These are the Final 3 minutes of game 2. The Comets won game 1 at Madison Square Garden with games 2 and 3 in Houston. The series was best of 3 then, so the Comets needed to win just 1 of the next 2 at home to take the title. Not spoiling the ending for you. But I defy you to find an NBA Finals game with a more thrilling finish. Enjoy.
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Comets were literally the female 96' Chicago Bulls team during those seasons.
They had the original big 3: Swoops, Cooper, and Thompson
Bulls didn't win 4 in a row. Comets had their own thing.
Damn shame that most of the early dynasties folded
The '96 Bulls? Forget that! They were more like the 90s Bulls teams that pulled off TWO 3-peats! It's a shame that a team as successful as this ended up out of the league in a few years. Should've never happened. Tragic.
Nate The Great The Conets were like The 90 Bulls and my Washington Mystics were like the 1974 Washington Capitals.
The comets 4 peat needs a 30 for 30
Nana Gyambibi I agree
Nana Gyambibi Agreed.
YES!!!!!
T-Spoon also deserves a 30 for 30.
All Facts
I don't care if it's the WNBA or not, Weatherspoon's heave is the most badass shot in basketball history.
You probably didn't watch Mississippi State snap UConn's 111-game win streak.
Don't get me wrong. T-Spoon's heave is legendary, but Morgan William (who's only 5 foot 5) drained a badass buzzer beater too. T-Spoon has company.
@@mach6893 I don't think you get the comment bro
It was a great shot, but also only merely delayed the inevitable, since it wasn't like it resulted in a championship, or anything though.
@@mach6893 yeah foxo Libre is right, you kind of missed the point of the comment. I just watched both shots again, it's really not even close, and I understand the significance of the MSU shot. Even though it delayed the inevitable it was a half court buzzer beater winner in a finals series, on the road
Hell no ur stupid tyreke Evan’s full court was more badass
Mike Breen takes part in yet another historic call. Man's a legend!
Maybe this sort of thing planted the seeds for ABC to say that's our guy for the NBA Finals from now on back in 2005-06. They had tried Brad Nessler, they had tried Al Michaels. Both seemed like fish out of water. It wasn't Mike Breen's first rodeo though in terms of big time NBA games. I remember in the late 90s, he would call Knick games on MSG whenever Marv Albert was on assignment on NBC or TNT and thinking 'I know Marv is a legend, but this guy's voice is explosive and lively, he's got some cool catchphrases, he is really fun to listen to. I wonder if anyone else notices besides me.'
Brad Nessler and Al Michael were horrible. ESPN did the right thing.
@@billny33 Mike Breen also called NFL games for FOX in 1996 and NBC in 1997 which led to him being used by NBC for their WNBA and NBA coverage.
@@theunthinkable1021 Al Michaels is more of a football and hockey guy. After all he called "The Miracle on Ice" when the US hockey team beat the favored Russians in the 1980 Winter Olympics
Yessir!
BROOOO WHAT??? One of the most insane shots in basketball history!
Crazy how Houston had the confetti falling early, wow 😂
My mother said she was 17 years old and was laughing.
I worked for the Comets during those years and i was there, on the floor when this happened, it was shocking. We were all cheering and going crazy, about to rush the court when Tina made that shot, and then theresa puts that shot up, right in front of us and we were like... What? no... NOOOOOOOOO To see and witness that game in person was amazing... but we all knew we were winning the next day anyway.
Man I miss those years. EVERYONE in the organization got rings. including the dancers. lol Classy owner
And I know you can speak from experience when I say, the WNBA was HISTORIC during this era. Look at the stands compared to now 😢. The product just ain’t the same !
You're lucky to work there during the comets years. But, they got it done in the next game. You saw them become champions, but, this was surprising because most thought the liberty might of won it the next game.
@@justinwright4276 the stands are filling up again, A'ja Wilson and Breanna are insane talents, the Aces team is historical and the young talent coming in is crazy
Most surprising part about this is Mike Breen doesn't say "BANG" after that shot
And the legend of Mike Breen begins with this one.
Loved rooting for Kim Hampton and that original Liberty team because they played just like the Knicks, unfortunately they also had that one team that they could not get by.
did some google searching and found out the former owner hilton koch sabotaged the Comets franchise
or two or three......
@@numb3r0101 Koch alone couldn't have destroyed the Comets. When the Comets moved from Compaq Center, attendance dwindled. The team couldn't move past the first round after the 4-peat, except in 2005.
No WNBA team made a profit until 2010, according to then league President Donna Orender.
I'm a strong supporter of the WNBA. I am also realistic. American sports culture, money, and power still regard most professional women's sports negatively. For the league to gain more revenue and profits, that must change.
@@numb3r0101 Explain
Like the Knicks could not get by the rockets in 94. Liberty could not get by the comets too.
The golden era of the WNBA...then it all fell apart. But these women right here...they were well worth watching.
Sad that the WNBA today doesn't get nearly as much attention.
The problem is that people keep comparing it to the men, which is not fair, because they don't do that with women's high school or college basketball.
That's true
liduck52 A notable exception to your comment is Reggie Miller being compared to his sister Cheryl until he established a separate identity in his professional career as a pure shooter.
It's tempting to compare women's basketball to men's and vice versa. I've used Cynthia Cooper as an example of a player who never quits during games unlike LeBron James during his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 5, Eastern Conference Semifinals of 2010 vs. Boston Celtics.
BrownBrother27 what if Cheryl played we just need a wnba game legend teams college teams and a mycareer
Cheryl is older than Reggie, and she retired a few years before the WNBA started due to injuries. She coached the Phoenix Mercury for the first four years of team's existence though.
As good of a finish as you'll ever see in basketball . . . on any level. That Comets team was LOADED, much like the modern day Golden State Warriors.
4 time WNBA Champions
"And there'll be a game 3, tomorrow afternoon." They used to play Finals games on back to back days? That's crazy.
mrwoods22 The best of three format until 2009 was that the team with the better record hosted the last two games.
Yeah, but still, it made no sense to the players to have those last 2 games on back to back days. I think NBC just thought it fit better into their ratings schedule with 2 weekend afternoon games? I dunno.
yup!!! ... one of the longest nights of my life getting ready for game 3. :P
I remember screaming in my livingroom when this happened! legendary.
Only Finals game win in NY history
My mom and I were watching on TV. We were screaming very loud when that shot went in. Amazing finish
@@FAITHandLOGICknicks won a ring in 73? Casual take..
Wish there was more old WNBA footage around. I was looking for footage of Tina Thompson's game when I recovered this gem. T-Spoon's shot was the best I saw from the women's game. Very impressive.
It was the best shot I've ever seen in any professional basketball game. The only shot that was better was when Kris Jenkins won it for 'Nova in 2016.
Saw this live and never noticed the power of not giving up and positive thinking in Weatherspoon until watching this. Look at Teresa's body language at the inbound. She made that shot before the inbound. This is and will remain one of the greatest wins in all of Basketball history!
You're right. Her teammate goes downcourt and Teresa is like no you get back here and inbound to ME! I'm taking this damn shot! And she freaking made it. Boss move.
I stopped being into the WNBA after the Comets disbanded. I loved the Comets.
Energy back than was way better than what is is now in the WNBA
Same with the NBA
OMG there are so many things. The Compaq Center - back when Compaq was a good computer. The Houston Comets - in the midst of their dynasty. The early years of the WNBA - Houston vs. LA, New York vs. Washington - oh man these were the days. Houston was my team because Sheryl Swoopes is one of my favorite players.
She had a phat ass too!! 🤤
I'm not sure what happened. As a woman who loves the game of basketball, I was all about the WNBA in the 90's. I never missed a Comets game, especially with the big three or with Lisa Leslie and the Sparks. My best friend and I were watching when Lisa Leslie dunked for the first time. We were so excited!
Look at the crowd ay this WNBA game. I've been watching the WNBA Championship game tonight and the stands aren't nearly as full. It makes me sad to see the direction the league has gone in.
Yeah. What's crazy is the talent is there but even I don't tune in anymore. Maybe cause they got too political? I don't know but something is different for sure
WNBA was fire back then!
This wnba game is more exciting than todays’s nba games
It was all Cooper,Swoops, and Thompson with the Comets. They were the whole team.
no there was also Janeth Arcain... but thats pretty much it lol
Janeth Arcain was fantastic. All star caliber.
Kim Perrot....won the first 2 titles as the PG, and then had to miss the '99 season because of lung cancer....it quickly spread to her brain and killed her shortly before the Finals.....she was a good player and the soul of the team
@@jermainebenson3230don't know about the Comets, but Janeth Arcain was a spectacular player for the Brazilian national team when she managed to win gold at the 1994 World Cup.
The WNBA was so fun to watch back then. It was like our own Olympics in the USA with some of the most dynamic talent ever in Basketball.
When the wnba was worth watching.
It still is.
@@finisher3x Not really. Too much activism
@@btone310 - Only to those who are against what they're talking about.
@@finisher3x no it's not the lady's of today's game dropped the ball and are not that good
@@23kingwill naw. They're actually a lot better now but something is missing.
Back when I was a teenager and loved the wnba. Wish the wnba now was like this.
Look at the stands. This was the peak of Women’s Basketball
I remember this game I was watching it I Miss Houston Comets
I remember watching this live. It was a great moment in Liberty history!
Man I loved this Liberty team,I was 10 years old when I started watching them. T-Spoon Vicky Johnson Becky Hammon Sue Wicks Crystal Robinson Rebecca Lobo man I loved them
Liberty out of timeouts.. 2.4 seconds left on the clock… 3 dribbles and a heave from just before half court.. Legendary, a moment we will never forget. Also, that Houston Comet franchise is all time in any sport as far as dominant franchises go!
I feel WNBA will benefit a lot going back to NBC
Wow, for the past 3 years, I thought Ray Allen's shot was the greatest shot for the finals ever since they would have had a 90% chance of losing if it didn't go in. But now that I watched this, this is absolutely better. Despite them losing the next game, this is still crazy. Surprised I have never heard about this.
I love how Mike was so flustered he just screamed. Couldn't even say bang.
Justin Colon Mike Breen reflected on the shot years later and said Weatherspoon's shot was before his trademark, emphatic "Bang!" became a regular thing.
I'd rank T-Spoon's heave over Ray Allen's prayer for 3 reasons.
1. T-Spoon's dagger won the game for the Comets. Ray Allen only extended the game into overtime.
2. Ray Allen left 5 seconds on the clock.
3. T-Spoon scored from 52 feet. That's not a typo either. T-Spoon nailed a 52-footer.
@@mach6893 Don't forget that T-Spoon's game winner was as the road team.
@@BrownBrother27 That too. The only shot that was greater than T-Spoon's game winner was Kris Jenkins' dagger that clinched a championship for 'Nova back in 2016.
The Last Dance brought me here... this Comets team deserves a 30 for 30
Can someone explain to me what exactly went wrong with the WNBA. Look at the size of that crowd, the enthusiasm of the fans, that simply doesn't exist anymore in this league. I don't get it.
I think the NBA pulled their sponsorships of the various teams and forced the league to make due without their backing. Budgets dipped, the uniforms changed, teams with an NBA team no longer necessarily had a companion WNBA team. The commercials and ads weren't as good. The games stopped being aired on network tv and settled for ESPN (cable) where the ratings tanked. I know for a few years, 03, 04 the WNBA Finals was still a big deal even on ESPN. Detroit pulled a huge upset of LA and it was cool. Laimbeer won as a coach. but eventually it just ran out of gas and ceased to matter like this.
:/
@@billny33 That's really fucking sad.
My mother remembers that game she was 17 and said she was laughing because Houston thought they was going to win, the confetti was coming down. That’s amazing how she made that shot from that far. Houston went on to win the WNBA finals.
I was following the 99 knicks during their run that summer and then this happened….99 was the year i fell in love with hoops
The Knicks and liberty came up short in the Finals of 99.
We not gonna talk about Mike Breen being the commentator?
It’s the 20th anniversary of this game!!
Such an amazing, epic ending this game sure was. I remember watching it live, back when the WNBA was still an interesting novelty which was at least worth checking out. The game, and even the electric atmosphere there definitely had an NBA esc. vibe to it, which you hardly (if ever) really tend to see with this league anymore either. That being even if nothing sadly came from it for the Liberty, who like the 90's Knicks teams, could never finish the job, nor figure out a way to solve their "kryptonite" that was the Houston Comets in the end. It was pretty much always the Bulls, or the state of Texas who had to deny New York a basketball championship of any kind back in the day too! 😢 L.O.L.!
The Comets had the best fans ever
I was actually watching this game when this happened I use to love the WNBA when it first came out i was a huge Liberty fan we just couldn't beat Houston I jumped out my chair in disbelief when this shot went in. I don't watch the WNBA anymore it's just not as good as it use to be I am just done with it but it was a good run.
Thompson shoulda had her own lip stick line
I was one row behind the scores table with my family as a teenager when I witness that shot. I was in shock!!! I was nervous for game 3.
Mike Breen is a GOAT!
that's extraordinary I can't believe I've never seen this
This moment is one of the key reasons why Teresa Weatherspoon is in the Hall of Fame (2019).
T-Spoon was my Fave Player Even as a Young Boy in Chicago She was my fave WNBA player she had that Paytin Defense
+billny33 I'm a Cavs fan, and this finish gives the last minute of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals a run for its money. This was one of the greatest shots in basketball history.
No it doesn't now you're pushing it lmao
Yo this shit gave me chills watching it again lol
Cynthia cooper is the best wnba player ever
Melo most definitely smartest female player to touch the ball
Straight facts.. She was a beast
If Cheryl was there it would've been a different story
Sheryl was there what are you talking about. The comets won their 1st championship without Sheryl so she wouldn't have made a difference.
@@anetragoolsby2436 I believe he's referring to Cheryl Miller, not Sheryl Swoopes. Cheryl Miller was an extremely dominate player but got injured in the 80s before the WNBA was created in the 90s. She never got to play in the WNBA which is why the commenter above you said, "IF Cheryl was there" meaning if Cheryl Miller had made it the WNBA instead of getting hurt she probably would have been in the "greatest WNBA player" conversation.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!!!!!!!
I look back on this game fondly. I was right there on the court waiting to celebrate. The entire staff in Houston would get championship rings, and I wanted my second one so bad. That crowd was crazy that night too, and when you hear them go silent after that shot, it was silent, it was , "AAWWWWGGGHHH" and "WTF??" But we still won the next night.
Houston won the series the next day. The 3 for 10 complete. RIP to Kim Perrot. This was my favorite sports team of all time.
WNBA games were packed back in the day.
Back when they still had NBA sponsorship it all felt and looked more official. The colors/logos/jerseys popped, the stars were properly marketed etc
When the WNBA was lit
Thank you for uploading this
All the comets players could do was smile ….such a legendary shot! I remember as a kid witnessing this live.
Oh my god I was about 15 yrs old, I was at this game!!!! It was such a fun time, these were the days man, these were the real ballers. T-Spoon stunned everybody. Met her in real life, such a nice person, cool down to earth.
Man... this better than these days by far
I remember that shot. Used to see it all the time time too.
I watched this game and was going for the Comets and I was screaming at the top of my lungs. And they say the WNBA didnt bring in crowds.
A group of grown men, including myself, audibly gasped when Witherspoon made that shot, HOLY SHIT!
I mean, its the only appropriate reaction to that. One of my great regrets is I didnt bother watching this game.
A-mazing!!!! I was watching that game at the time and just WOW!!
this one even made it into an WNBA ad for 2000 with reggie miller making a cameo
Reggie wishes he had a shot like this on his resume.
@@billny33 He sort of did when he hit the game tying three from half court against the Nets in Game #5 of the first round of the 2002 playoffs. That of which got the Pacers to OT, but still lost the game, and the series though.
I have goosebumps watching this
Wow one of the greatest games of all time!!!
To have been at that game...
People started taking women's basketball serious after this. What a game and shot!
The Houston Comets was the only Houston I cheered for
Whoa I was not expecting that ending!!!
As riveting a moment as it is beautiful. I'm in disbelief. As a guy who played ball seriously, there's just something extra special about women creating this kind of competitive tension and finishing like that. Wnba had gravitas back then.
It sure did. And it was strange bc even being on Long Island, nobody I talked sports with cared about the WNBA or this game/series/rivalry/title at all. But you turn any of those old Liberty/Comets Finals games on and its clear that this is a BIG DEAL. So I kind of had to appreciate this in a vaccuum by myself.
@@billny33 i feel you. That wnba era is a hidden gem.
When the WNBA was good.
Damn I wish my Liberty won this championship then. I was so mad the next game😢
I do remember the Liberty were very inept in game 3 and it was a very frustrating game to watch knowing they could have won the whole thing that day and they laid an egg.
Mike Breen on commentary. GOAT!
Cynthia Cooper was legendary
I really remember this game I watch staring to finish the game it was unbelievable 3 point calasic that's why I like Wnba
The wnba was Better in the 90s
Playing the next day is crazy 😭
I remember this game like it was yesterday
Crowd was going crazy until that shot 😃
When the WNBA was enjoyable too watch
Charles Fair it still is it’s just not market well at all
The best game-winning shot in basketball history.
I was there at the game. Man it was CRUSHED my heart! Lol 😂
Greatest shot of all time
T SPOON BABY.
I’m not a WNBA fan but I must say this. I hope that the Houston Comets will be back one day in the WNBA!!!
Can you believe in September will be 25 years since they had this ? Why aren't these games on d.v.d ?
I remember it like it was yesterday just an incredible shot.
All of today's WNBA players need to watch these old games that features Theresa Weatherspoon Cynthia Cooper Lisa Leslie Becky Hammon and the rest of the pioneers and play just as aggressive as them and block them as they go down the court. This was great basketball then. I would rather watch the WNBA over the NBA. I was a little boy watching these legends play in the 90s with my 3 older sisters who had Hammon Leslie Cooper Swoopes Weatherspoon as their heroes. I know Sue Bird is not a pioneer but she plays like a pioneer and Caitlin Clark, I like their playing styles as they take over like the WNBA ledgends
One of the greatest games of all time
This is by far the greatest finish in basketball history....male or female. Respect it!
And that's why I had to upload it. You can find it elsewhere on RUclips now but it wasn't always that way.
Dam Dat gave me goosebumps 😳
Games 2 and 3 on back to back days would be unthinkable today lol
2025: “CLARK TO WIN IT ALL……BANG! BANG! A LOGO 3 TO WIN THE GAME!” 🏆🏆🏆
Never won anything, will not be the best player on the team Boston will be
Back in the good old days when the WNBA finals could nearly full up the whole center instead of now we're WNBA would be lucky to sell 1/6 of their seats
Mike Breen on the call >>>
I remember running through my house screaming with T Spoon hit that shot. The only thing that would have made that even more special is if it had happen at the Garden that place would have become unglued!! Great childhood memories too bad for the Liberty though reality set in next game.
I remember watching this live and my jaw dropping lol
20 years later i still follow the Liberty. I'm hoping they move to the Barclay Center.