Hanging With Dads and Daughters at the New York Liberty Championship Parade
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Who doesn't love a parade? On Thursday morning, a delirious New York Liberty team, their coaches, front office, and beloved mascot climbed aboard decked-out buses and cruised down Broadway, marking the franchise's first ever championship parade. Onlookers scaled everything in sight to lay eyes on Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and the rest of the history-making Liberty. It was the first ticker tape parade for a New York team since the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2012, and the city came out in droves to experience it firsthand.
A huge percentage of the crowd was young girls—jubilant about missing school—accompanied by fathers who didn't think twice about taking them into the city. Multiplication tables and social studies would have to wait another day. “Don’t get us in trouble with the school system,” one parent pleaded. On Thursday, it was all about the Liberty. For the second season in a row, the Libs put up a sparkling 32-8 record in the regular season, but unlike last year, this time they finished the deal. A clean sweep of the Atlanta Dream in the first round set up a rematch with the Las Vegas Aces, who beat New York for the trophy in 2023, in the semifinals. Behind a complete team effort, the Liberty overcame their demons in the desert and got through the Aces in four games.
The last stage—an instant classic five-game death match against the Minnesota Lynx—proved to be a taller task than most fans anticipated. But when the buzzer sounded at the end of a do-or-die Game 5, confetti fell from the Barclays Center rafters and the Liberty had officially done it. A group of three preteen sisters gleefully told me that they were allowed to stay up past their bedtime to watch the Liberty bring it home while their father proudly looked on. “Sports, I think, brings out the best in everybody," Dad said. "We’re fortunate that they enjoy playing sports. It’s great seeing women, and positive role models for the girls.”
At the parade, each of the team's big three was appropriately turnt, and Ellie the Elephant met the moment as well. As the parade down shifted into City Hall, the dancing sensation made Mayor Eric Adams hold her purse as she threw her trademark braid around, igniting the crowd even further. In the Canyon of Heroes, savvy New Yorkers camped out on their windowsills and rained shredded paper on the champions. On the street, every speaker seemed to be blasting “Empire State of Mind,” and the adults playing hooky were not so conspicuously sipping from brown bags and puffing on their substance of choice.
For the kids, though, it was a flashbulb moment. The Liberty's championship could, without hyperbole, be remembered as something that changes the course of women's sports forever, as America's biggest city fell in love with a team of female hoopers that made good on their skyscraping hype. The entire tri-state area came out in full force to officially close the book on the New York Liberty’s inaugural championship season, one that put a love of basketball in countless kids, both locally and globally. “Me and other people can get inspired by them, mostly because of how they first lost and then won,” said Zoe from Brooklyn. “That means that even if you lose at first, you can still win and have a second chance.”
1/31Daniel and his daughters Dawar, Enid, and Balbay were visiting from Australia and realized they'd be in town for the parade. The girls started playing basketball about two years ago, citing Aussie legend Lauren Jackson as an inspiration. Dad, whose kids describe him as “obsessed with the NBA,” was thrilled to give his children the opportunity to see women's basketball greatness up close.
“It’s having a moment right now, and it’s nice to be a part of that," Daniel said. "It gives them something to dream about, you know? Hopefully one day, they can see themselves playing in the WNBA.”
2/31Joel took his daughter Maddie out of school and had no reservations about it at all. "It can be a momentous, memorable occasion. Basketball, the women’s sports movement, and the togetherness as a community, it’s a combination of everything. That’s why I felt it was imperative to be here today. It’s just one day out of school. This is going to last a lifetime.”
3/31Sabrina Ionescu, WNBA champion.
4/31Matilda and her sister Penelope became lifelong Liberty fans when, on Matilda's birthday, she met Sabrina Ionescu. They got a signed jersey from the fearless point guard, much to the delight of the whole family. Forging a connection with the players is a great way to make kids want to attend more games, and as Dad noted, an evening at Barclays Center is also one of the city's rare affordable activities to do with your kids.
5/31Barricade for a championship parade, what a vibe.
6/31The girls weren't the only ones having fun. Dads and sons took in the parade together as well.
7/31You gotta get creative if you want a good view, as the crowd on Broadway got six and seven deep in certain stretches.
8/31Juliana attended the parade with her mom and basketball coach, who said, “One thing I try to do with my program is, within the first two years, bring them to a game and try to spark that interest. It’s a blessing to have girls like the sport. I try to heighten that so they can like it forever.” Juliana, who hails from Queens, appreciates the little things. “I always watch Betnijah [Laney-Hamilton]’s defense stance to be just like her.”
9/31Juliana also showed some love to role player Leonie Fiebich. “Best player, top ten. I like her passing, it’s so good I’m not even kidding. She’s so good.”
10/31Ed (in the orange hoodie) brought his daughters and a group of friends in from Tarrytown to celebrate their heroes. His daughter Olivia said, “It’s just so awesome that the women’s team actually won. I’m here with all my basketball friends. It’s definitely a core memory.”
Olivia's sister Gaby mentioned Ionescu as her favorite player. When asked why, she simply said, “She’s really good at basketball!”
11/31Neil and his nine-year-old daughter Keira have experienced lots of iconic women's sports moments together. Dad sat her down on the couch in 2019 to watch the United States women's soccer team (the last team to get a parade through the Canyon of Heroes) win the World Cup, and took her to the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano fight in 2022, the first women's boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden.
"Women’s sports has really taken off. I try to expose her to it, because this celebration of female excellence—seeing the crowds—all of that is really inspiring. Hopefully they win another one next year so we can do it again!”
12/31Dad and daughter (and Stewie doll) creating memories that will last forever.
13/31Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a woman of the people.
14/31Christian and Layla from Queens made it to several games during the Libs' championship season. “They were really fun, and they had a lot of intensity,” Layla marveled. Watching women's basketball together has added another layer to their relationship.
“It’s just the bond, and me teaching her the game as well," Christian said. "It’s a nice experience for her. She also sees what a team is really like.”
15/31Season ticket holders from Brooklyn, Manny and Zoe have enjoyed several daddy-daughter moments at Liberty games. Asked if the WNBA has brought her closer to her dad, Zoe quipped, “Unfortunately…I’m kidding, I’m kidding!”
But as anyone who's been to a game can attest, a certain pachyderm has a way of upstaging even the most loving parent. “Ellie? No further explanation,” Zoe states. "I met her once. That was insane.”
16/31The boys couldn't, so the women did.
17/31Mike and Ava from Staten Island also say that the Liberty have given them something to bond over. Ava loves Ionescu because of her confidence, work ethic, and the way she encourages her teammates. The two stayed up late together to watch the Liberty win the championship, although Dad admits that he's no basketball expert.
“I'm just here for her.”
18/31Jordyn, Savannah, and Ariana are aspiring hoopers from Putnam County. They were at the very first game of the Libs' historic 2024 season, and even got to go on the court. While all three hope to have a Ionescu or Stewart-like career, they also give credit to their old man (and his jump shot) for helping them understand the finer points of basketball.
“He's the one who teaches us!”
19/31Raven (middle, in the 6 jacket) is a Brooklyn kid who recently started playing basketball at school. Her sister Dee (left) wasn't shy about her disdain for basketball, but still came out to experience the Liberty's first ever championship parade.
“It's a long time coming, too,” their mother laughed.
20/31Jose and his daughters Emma and Amirah live in New Jersey but had to come out for the parade. They were in person for the Game 5 clincher as well. Emma admits that she thought the Liberty were going to lose at the end, while Amirah provided the older sister wisdom.
“I had a little bit of doubt, but I knew they were gonna win.”
21/31Lady Liberty got her first ring.
22/31“A couple years ago, I couldn’t get her to watch a basketball game. She wasn’t into sports too heavy," says Marcus of his daughter Sanaa. "Once she got exposed to going to Liberty games? She sits and watches them. She got the WNBA app on her iPad so she knows when the Liberty are playing. The Liberty have done a great job reaching the younger demographic.”
Sanaa plays basketball now and shouts out Jonquel Jones as her favorite player. When asked if she's any good, Sanaa immediately responded with MVP-level confidence: “Yes.”
23/31DIY confetti man was a popular figure.
24/31Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, draped in the Bahamian flag, shows off her new hardware.
25/31Welcome to Stew York City.
26/31Need to see the Stewie Cam footage.
27/31White gloves only if you're going to handle the trophy.
28/31Walter and Tiffany headed downtown from the Bronx on Thursday morning with their daughter Cori. Mom and Dad say it's really exciting to see her get so amped up about a hometown team, and Cori's fandom was rewarded in a big way during the parade.
“Sabrina gave me a heart and waved because I had her sneakers on.”
29/31Coming to a WNBA court near you in 2036.
30/31Business was booming for anyone selling Statue of Liberty head dresses.
31/31As the festivities ended, Martin, his daughter Angel, and his son Maximus made their way down to the subway. Angel used to be a dancer, something that captured the interest of her mother. But when she started getting into basketball, it was Dad's time to shine.
“Now that she plays AAU," Martin explained, "we’re together every weekend.”
