Thousands of New Yorkers gathered on the morning of October 24th to celebrate the historic victory of the New York Liberty, the city’s women’s professional basketball team, at the “Canyon of Heroes” in Lower Manhattan. It marked the first time in the team’s 28-year history that they captured the WNBA championship. Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Adams joined in the parade to commemorate this significant moment in the city’s sports history.
The parade kicked off at 10 a.m. from Battery Park and made its way up Broadway towards City Hall. Star players of the Liberty team, including Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and their teammates, rode on floats waving to enthusiastic fans lining the streets. The excitement was palpable as fans cheered and applauded their beloved team.
The Liberty clinched their first WNBA title by defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime during the fifth game of the WNBA Finals on October 20th. Mayor Adams expressed pride in the team’s accomplishment, noting that it was a moment for the nation to recognize the immense talent within the WNBA.
Following the parade, a celebratory award ceremony took place at City Hall. Later in the evening, another festive event was held at the Barclays Center to further revel in the Liberty’s championship victory.