Teresa Weatherspoon couldn’t watch “The Shot” for years. It’s nonetheless not the simplest matter for her to debate.
Weatherspoon is the top coach of the Chicago Sky, however 25 years in the past she was a guard for the New York Liberty and going through the Houston Comets within the 1999 WNBA Finals. Houston led 67-65 with 2.4 seconds left in Recreation 2 of the best-of-three collection on a basket from Tina Thompson. The Comets had a 1-0 collection lead and have been trying to shut the deal and win their third consecutive league championship.
A minor miracle was wanted for the Liberty to win — and Weatherspoon delivered in entrance of 16,285 followers on the Compaq Middle in Houston. She caught an inbounds cross from Kym Hampton and launched a desperation, 50-foot shot, banking it in to provide the Liberty an unbelievable 68-67 victory on Sept. 4, 1999.
It was one of many first iconic moments within the WNBA’s historical past.
The draw back for the Liberty, nevertheless, was dropping Recreation 3 the following day.
“I wouldn’t watch it for a lot of, a few years as a result of we didn’t win the championship,” Weatherspoon mentioned.
Her problem in talking about that interval goes past the playoffs. Weatherspoon performed all the season with a heavy coronary heart. Her 19-year-old nephew, Anthony, had died in a automotive crash weeks earlier than the beginning of the common season. Moreover, Houston guard Kim Perrot, considered one of Weatherspoon’s finest associates, died from issues of lung most cancers on Aug. 19, two weeks earlier than the beginning of the finals.
“That 12 months was most likely some of the troublesome years for me and my household throughout that point,” Weatherspoon mentioned. “And when that shot went in, solely my teammates knew what me and my household have been considering at the moment. It was larger than what most individuals assume, one thing I by no means actually speak about.
“It gave us one other likelihood to play one other sport, which was wonderful, an incredible alternative to play with (an) wonderful basketball staff. Nevertheless it additionally meant one thing to me and our household.”
The unbelievable bucket shocked Comets followers and gamers. A presumed championship celebration began prematurely, as confetti fell from the rafters. Few exterior of Weatherspoon and the Liberty anticipated a direct reply after Thompson’s basket.
“You heard an individual on the aspect saying, ‘Cease the confetti!’ Some girl was screaming that,” Hampton mentioned. “As we have been celebrating, you would see confetti beginning to fall.”
Hampton credit Weatherspoon for not solely making the shot but in addition sustaining her composure earlier than it. Hampton mentioned she was down after Thompson made the go-ahead basket, as she was the participant on the Liberty emphasizing strong protection, just for Thompson to make the shot over her.
“I’m hanging my head, you understand, like, ‘Oh, my God, right here we go once more,’” Hampton mentioned. “And Spoon is like, ‘Hurry up! Hurry! Take it out!’”
Weatherspoon mentioned she hadn’t practiced half-court photographs. She mentioned Liberty teammate Becky Hammon — now the top coach of the Las Vegas Aces — was a frequent winner of the post-practice half-court shot contests. However the ball didn’t find yourself in Hammon’s arms in these remaining seconds.
Hampton mentioned she supposed to roll the ball to Weatherspoon however noticed Thompson make a play to defend. Hampton then threw the ball to Weatherspoon, who freed herself simply sufficient for the try.
“Nobody was on my right-hand aspect, so it gave me a possibility to heave that factor,” Weatherspoon mentioned. “After I obtained an opportunity to shoot, it simply appeared like that was endlessly — actually felt prefer it was endlessly. I knew that I simply obtained a possibility to heave it, and it went in for an additional likelihood to attempt to get on the Comets and win.”
New York Liberty teammates rushed Teresa Weatherspoon after her game-winning shot throughout Recreation 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals in opposition to the Houston Comets. (Invoice Baptist / NBAE through Getty Photographs)
Houston coach Van Chancellor mentioned Weatherspoon’s shot led to one more sleepless night time. In these days, video games 2 and three of the WNBA Finals have been performed on back-to-back days, so there wasn’t a lot time to get well. He wasn’t positive what to inform the staff the following day, however the Comets remained in command of the collection, as that they had home-court benefit.
“I spent all that night time considering, ‘What am I going to do to deliver us again the following night time?’” Chancellor mentioned. “I used to be simply so relieved we’d received the championship. We nearly let it get away from us. I used to be simply worn out.”
Houston received Recreation 3 59-47, and although the Comets three-peated, each groups will always remember “The Shot.” Chancellor mentioned Weatherspoon’s bucket nonetheless comes up in dialog. He expects to see Weatherspoon on the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame festivities this fall and is aware of 1999 will come up.
“She’s going to say, ‘Yeah, I made the shot, however you bought my ring,’” Chancellor mentioned. “And that’s all that issues to me.”
“It gave us one other day,” Hampton mentioned. “It might be extra of a second (for us) had it led to the championship.”
Weatherspoon has loads to be happy with surrounding her Corridor of Fame profession. Nevertheless it doesn’t change the truth that Houston nonetheless has that Recreation 3 win 25 years in the past that price her a championship.
And Weatherspoon is aware of when she sees anybody from that staff, The Shot and Recreation 3 will come up.
“They know I’m nonetheless salty about it,” Weatherspoon mentioned. “I give credit score the place credit score is due. They have been a hell of a basketball staff. We gave all the things we frickin’ needed to attempt to win.”
— The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg contributed to this story.
(Prime picture: Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE through Getty Photographs)
