- The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx to become first-time WNBA champions.
- On Thursday, the team celebrated with a jubilant parade through Lower Manhattan.
- We spoke to some of the team’s biggest fans. One shared why they support the team even as the price of season tickets rises.
The New York Liberty celebrated its WNBA championship victory with a parade through Manhattan’s Financial District on Thursday in a picture-perfect conclusion to a record-shattering season.
On Sunday, the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime of game five of the WNBA finals to bring home the team’s first-ever championship.
Liberty star and two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart told reporters after the game, “I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while. There’s no feeling like it.”
She added, “To bring a championship to New York — first ever in franchise history — it’s an incredible feeling, and I literally can’t wait to continue to celebrate with the city.”
Four days later, that celebration came. With on-theme songs, including Ja Rule’s “New York” blasting across Lower Manhattan, the team celebrated its victory with a ticker-tape parade up Broadway.
The Liberty broke revenue and attendance records this year
The 2024 WNBA season, which started with the drafting of powerhouse rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, was destined to be different.
When the season kicked off in May, the Associated Press reported that the New York Liberty had become the first team to have more than $2 million in ticket revenue for a single game.
Sports Illustrated, citing data from sports news and information website Sportico, reported in June that the Liberty was worth $130 million — the league’s third-highest value — and brought in the most revenue in 2023 at $18 million.
It didn’t stop there. In September, the WNBA reported the 2024 regular season had the highest attendance the league has seen in 22 years, with more than 2.3 million fans in attendance, a 48% increase from last season.
Television viewership was up, too, with an average of 1.19 million viewers — a 170% increase from last season — making it the most-watched WNBA regular season on ESPN in history. Game five of the finals attracted 3.3 million viewers, a record high, according to Nielsen.
Before fans start thinking about next season, here are the best moments from the Liberty’s celebration — including conversations with fans, who spoke about why they the league.
