New York Liberty secured their first WNBA Championship in the team’s 28-year history, and the city is in celebratory chaos.
As the buzzer rang out at the 18,090-strong arena crowd, the Liberty, with a heart-stopping 67-62 victory, celebrated their first title and their first-ever finals win after six competitive showings up to this point.
Between the confetti explosions that rained down at the final buzzer and the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” Barclays Center was overcome with emotions as the athletes relished their sweet victory.
Game 5 was a rollercoaster, peppered with five lead changes and five ties, including a nail-biting finish where the tension peaked in the final moments of the fourth quarter. As the clock wound down, it was a true test of grit and skill that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
“After 28 years, we can finally say it: the New York Liberty are WNBA champions,” Jonathan Kolb, General Manager of the New York Liberty, said in a statement. “This achievement belongs to our fans who never wavered, each and every Liberty legend who paved the way, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai who breathed new life into an organization in need, and the entire city of New York that has been starving for a championship—and of course, our players, whose grit, sacrifice, and determination have made history. They are truly the first to do it in New York, and I could not be more proud of this entire organization.”
As the athletes celebrated inside with champagne showers, fans stood outside the arena reciting the team’s call-and-response manta — “We all we got, We all we need”— coined by Jones earlier this season.
New York officials, including Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul, praised the win online.
“The @nyliberty are proof: When you give women a chance to succeed, they’ll carry the torch forward to a brighter future,” Hochul wrote on X.
But it’s not just the leaders showing love. City landmarks like the Empire State Building shone bright with seafoam green love.
As fans made their way home after the game, they were thrilled to see a Nike campaign illuminating the Brooklyn Bridge.
The phrase “Liberty has a nice ring to it” hatched by Nike has fans erupting with online applause.
My cousin works at Nike and said it was W+K. Idk if it was Portland but my homeboy who works in the NY office confirmed it and showed me this. They won. https://t.co/gB3UD1IPPx pic.twitter.com/hF0SzRwjaT
— Sioban M (@JustCallMeSio) October 21, 2024
The MTA is also celebrating the ladies with celebratory signs at the Liberty Avenue Station in East New York.
The city has shown nothing but love for the athletes, and the celebration is just beginning. Liberty is ready to celebrate a groundbreaking championship with the city that’s been supporting them all season long.
Per New York Liberty, the city will host an official ticker tape parade on Oct. 21 in both Manhattan and Brooklyn at 10 a.m.
On Oct. 24, the city will host their first-ever WNBA Championship victory parade. Set to begin at 10 a.m., the parade will start from Battery Park and go along Broadway towards City Hall, journeying through the famed “Canyon of Heroes.” There will also be a special ceremony honoring the New York Liberty at City Hall at noon.
The team will wrap up celebrations with an event outside of Barclays Center at 7 p.m.
The parade is open and free for all fans to attend, but tickets are required for the ceremony at City Hall and the fan celebration at Barclays Center. Those looking to attend can sign up online to receive additional parade day details.
“This Championship is not only for us and New York City – it’s for all Liberty Loyals and our Brooklyn community. We are honored to celebrate at the iconic Canyon of Heroes and also come together with our passionate fans at our home in Brooklyn,” Keia Clarke, CEO of New York Liberty, said in a statement. “The community in the borough has embraced us wholeheartedly since we began playing at Barclays Center, and we want to share this moment with them.”
