LOS ANGELES Sparks beat the Charlotte Sting to win their first WNBA championship

<br>LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The Los Angeles Sparks beat the Charlotte Sting 82-54 Saturday to win their first WNBA championship and give the 5-year-old league its first champion other than the Houston Comets.

Saturday, September 1st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The Los Angeles Sparks beat the Charlotte Sting 82-54 Saturday to win their first WNBA championship and give the 5-year-old league its first champion other than the Houston Comets.

The Sparks' victory _ by the largest margin in championship series history _ gives Los Angeles two pro basketball championships in the same year. The Lakers beat Philadelphia in June for their second consecutive NBA title.

Lisa Leslie had 24 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and seven blocked shots and was voted most valuable player of the finals to go with her MVP awards from the regular season and All-Star game, making her the first WNBA player to sweep the trophies.

Leslie left the game to a standing ovation.