Established in 1997 as one of eight original teams in the Women's National Basketball Association, the three-time WNBA Champion Los Angeles Sparks tipped off the WNBA's inaugural season on June 21, 1997 versus the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, CA. A crowd of 14,284 watched as Sparks guard Penny Toler scored the first basket in league history, although the Liberty prevailed 67-57. Los Angeles compiled an impressive 45-17 record in four seasons at the Great Western Forum before following their NBA counterparts, the Los Angeles Lakers, to STAPLES Center, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.