The New York Liberty celebrated its first-ever championship and record-breaking WNBA season

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The New York Liberty celebrating successful beforehand of New York City Hall arsenic confetti flies done nan air.

Angle down icon An icon successful nan style of an perspective pointing down. The New York Liberty celebrated their WNBA title triumph successful beforehand of City Hall successful Manhattan connected Thursday. Elsa/Staff/Getty Images
  • The New York Liberty defeated nan Minnesota Lynx to go first-time WNBA champions.
  • The last capped disconnected a grounds twelvemonth for nan WNBA arsenic attendance and viewership soared.
  • On Thursday, nan squad celebrated pinch a jubilant parade done Lower Manhattan.

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The New York Liberty celebrated its WNBA championship triumph pinch a parade done Manhattan's Financial District connected Thursday successful a picture-perfect conclusion to a record-shattering season.

On Sunday, nan Liberty defeated nan Minnesota Lynx 67-62 successful overtime of crippled 5 of nan WNBA finals to bring location nan team's first-ever championship.

Liberty prima and two-time convention MVP Breanna Stewart told reporters aft nan game, "I've been manifesting this infinitesimal for a while. There's nary emotion for illustration it."

She added, "To bring a title to New York — first ever successful franchise history — it's an unthinkable feeling, and I virtually can't hold to proceed to observe pinch nan city."

Four days later, that ceremony came. With metropolis favorites for illustration Ja Rule's "New York" blasting down Broadway, nan squad celebrated its triumph pinch a ticker-tape parade successful Lower Manhattan.

The Liberty collapsed gross and attendance records this year

From nan drafting of powerhouse rookies for illustration Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, nan 2024 WNBA play was destined to beryllium different.

When nan play kicked disconnected successful May, nan Associated Press reported that nan New York Liberty had go nan first squad to person much than $2 cardinal successful summons gross for a azygous game.

Sports Illustrated, citing information from Sportico, reported successful June that nan Liberty was nan third-highest weighted successful nan league, worthy $130 million, and brought successful nan astir gross successful 2023 astatine $18 million.

It didn't extremity there. In September, nan WNBA reported nan 2024 regular play had nan highest attendance nan league's seen successful 22 years, pinch much than 2.3 cardinal fans successful attendance, a 48% summation from past season.

Viewership was up, too, pinch an mean of 1.19 cardinal viewers — a 170% summation from past play — making it nan most-watched WNBA regular play connected ESPN successful history. Game 5 of nan finals saw a grounds highest of 3.3 cardinal viewers, according to Nielsen.

And nan convention has nary volition of slowing down. On October 21, nan WNBA players' union, nan WNBPA, opted retired of its corporate bargaining agreement.

"Opting retired isn't conscionable astir bigger paychecks — it's astir claiming our rightful stock of nan business we've built, improving moving conditions, and securing a early wherever nan occurrence we create benefits today's players and nan generations to come," said WNBPA president and nine-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike.

But earlier fans commencement reasoning astir really adjacent play whitethorn look, present are nan champion moments from nan Liberty's celebration.

Breanna "Stewie" Stewart smiled pinch nan title trophy in-hand.

Breanna Stewart holding nan WNBA title trophy.

Breanna Stewart is simply a two-time WNBA MVP. Elsa/Staff/Getty Images

Stewart is simply a two-time WNBA MVP and three-time WNBA champion. She vanished nan regular play pinch an mean of 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

Stewart enjoyed nan ceremony pinch fans connected a float.

Breanna Stewart celebrating pinch nan crowd successful beforehand of a motion that sounds "Stew York."

Stewart said, "It's an unthinkable feeling" to bring nan title to New York. Sarah Stier/Staff/Getty Images

The float's motion jokingly points retired that New York City could beryllium called "Stew York City."

The Liberty's Rebekah Gardner, Ivana Dojkić, and Leonie Fiebich waved to nan crowd.

Rebekah Gardner, Ivana Dojkić, and Leonie Fiebich activity to nan crowd.

The New York Liberty defeated nan Minnesota Lynx 3 games to two. Michael M. Santiago/Staff/Getty Images

WNBA rookie Leonie Fiebich was added to nan Liberty's starting lineup up of information 1 of nan playoffs, wherever she scored 15 points successful nan first half against nan Atlanta Dream.

Finals MVP Jonquel Jones held her trophy and waved to nan crowd.

Jonquel Jones waved to nan crowd while holding nan WNBA title MVP trophy.

Jonquel Jones was nan WNBA finals MVP. Elsa/Staff/Getty Images

Jones scored 17 points and had six rebounds successful nan Liberty's game-five win.

After nan game, she told ESPN, "It intends everything to beryllium capable to propulsion retired a title and propulsion retired a win. I conscionable cognize really bad everybody successful nan locker room wanted it, and you know, it's a awesome group; we really emotion each other, truthful to beryllium capable to decorativeness nan play for illustration this arsenic champions is 2nd to none."

Head coach Sandy Brondello sprayed nan crowd pinch champagne.

Liberty caput coach Sandy Brondello sprayed champagne.

Brondello celebrated nan team's first title win. Rob Kim/Getty Images

Brondello has been nan Liberty's caput coach since 2022.

Guard Sabrina Ionescu waved to nan crowd.

Sabrina Ionescu and others waved to nan crowd during nan parade.

Sabrina Ionescu is simply a first-time WNBA champion. Sarah Stier/Staff/Getty Images

Ionescu has spent each 5 years of her WNBA profession pinch nan New York Liberty.

She is nan first subordinate successful convention history to people much than 500 points, make much than 200 rebounds, and person much than 200 assists successful 1 season.

Ionescu wore a civilization Nike overgarment to nan parade.

Sabrina Ionescu smiling and interacting pinch nan crowd during nan Liberty's title parade.

Ionescu wore a civilization Nike overgarment for nan occasion. Sarah Stier/Staff/Getty Images

The civilization portion featured nan Liberty's 2024 playoff bid records' connected nan sleeves. It besides has phrases for illustration "Liberty has a bully ringing to it," each successful nan team's signature colors of seafoam green, black, and white.

Team owners Clara Wu Tsai and Joseph Tsai joined nan celebration.

Liberty owners Clara Wu Tsai and Joseph Tsai smiled to nan crowd.

Clara Wu Tsai and Joseph Tsai are owners of nan New York Liberty. Elsa/Staff/Getty Images

Wu Tsai told Gothamist astatine nan parade that she felt "so grateful to beryllium capable to bring this to nan city."

She added, "It's really an statement afloat of love."

Longtime instrumentality Deimosa Webber-Bey, 46, hopes nan WNBA's increasing occurrence shows young girls that they tin go master athletes.

Deimosa Webber-Bey and her sister Neota Webber-Bey airs together connected nan sidewalk earlier nan title parade.

Deimosa Webber-Bey, left, and her sister Neota Webber-Bey, right. Dan Latu/Business Insider

Queens librarian Webber-Bey has attended New York Liberty games since nan team's inaugural play successful 1997. Because her begetter was a hoops coach, Webber-Bey loved nan sport, but had a difficult clip picturing herself playing it.

"I didn't spot a early for maine successful that sport," she told Business Insider astatine nan parade connected Thursday. "At slightest I knew each 4 years you could beryllium successful nan Olympics arsenic a master runner, truthful I picked way and field."

Now, pinch nan Liberty's triumph and nan increasing occurrence of nan WNBA, she hopes young female athletes spot a runway for their careers.

"I want, particularly nan young girls, to cognize this is an action for you to beryllium a master athlete," she said.

Season summons holder Gris Osses said nan value of their tickets are much than doubling adjacent year, but it's worthy it to support nan Liberty.

Gris Osses poses successful a seafoam greenish hoops sweatshirt, waiting for nan title parade.

Gris Osses said to Business Insider astatine nan parade. Dan Latu/Business Insider

Brooklyn resident Osses, 38, has held play tickets for 3 years and said nan yearly complaint has climbed from $500 to $600 and now $1,400 for adjacent season. But Osses is happy to support nan Liberty.

"It's still comparatively inexpensive compared to nan NBA," Osses told Business Insider. "As agelong arsenic that money goes backmost to nan players, I'm OK pinch that. Because they merit it."

Osses besides says nan situation astatine nan Barclays Center location games is worthy nan value of admission.

"The magnitude of money they put into intermezo and making it a family atmosphere, it's encouraging everyone to watch," Osses said. "If I ever person a family I want to bring them to a Liberty game."

Overall, Osses says nan Caitlin Clark effect was a "net positive" arsenic it helped put nan athletics connected nan representation and bring much attraction to nan WNBA, but caller fans should beryllium respectful of nan instrumentality guidelines nan Liberty has built.

"Its an inclusive abstraction and its really inviting, specifically for nan LGBTQ+ community," Osses added.

Bronx resident George Sanchez is raising 4 daughters arsenic Liberty fans, but said it's tricky to equilibrium nan costs of jerseys and tickets.

George Sanchez, pinch his woman and 2 of his daughters, waits for nan Liberty title parade.

From right, George Sanche, Leidy Sanchez, Juliana Sanchez, and Natalia Sanchez. Dan Latu/Business Insider

Bronx resident George Sanchez and his family took an hour-long train thrust down to nan Financial District, lining up astatine 9:30 a.m. for a chance to spot nan team, he told Business Insider.

Sanchez says his 4 daughters, spanning ages 3 to 11, sewage into nan New York Liberty complete nan past 2 years arsenic excitement astir nan squad was building.

"My daughters play for New York City hoops teams, truthful we're ever going to Liberty games," Sanchez said.

His 2 oldest daughters had can't miss schoolhouse obligations, but Sanchez was capable to return his 2 youngest superfans to spot nan parade.

Balancing excitement for nan squad pinch their increasing fame tin beryllium tricky, Sanchez said. The past clip his family of six attended a crippled astatine nan Barclays Center, it was $145 for each ticket, he said.

"We spell to arsenic galore games arsenic we can," Sanchez said. "I want it to explode, but it intends little predominant games."

It's not conscionable nan summons prices; nan girls get swept up successful each merchandise, for illustration hats and jerseys, arsenic well.

"Of course, each nan girls are like, 'I want that one!" Sanchez said.

Superfan Thiviya Saraswati has organized group outings to spot Liberty games pinch much than 50 New Yorkers.

Thiviya Saraswati poses pinch a foam crown and finger, showing disconnected her Liberty t-shirt arsenic well

Thiviya Saraswati attended nan parade. Dan Latu/Business Insider

Queens lawyer Thiviya Saraswati is simply a caller WNBA superfan who says she's making up for mislaid time.

"I've gone to possibly 10 games this year. I get group-rate tickets and bring astatine slightest 10 people," Saraswati told Business Insider. "I booked a artifact of 50 for my coworkers this summer."

She said tickets were astir $20 each and she paid for nan full outing up front, past had everyone salary her back. Even if summons prices summation adjacent year, Saraswati said she'll support organizing large groups arsenic she's ever capable to find friends who want to go.

Saraswati said she wants arsenic galore caller fans for nan Liberty and WNBA arsenic possible, but not astatine nan costs of misogyny.

"I've heard antheral fans online say, 'You should beryllium grateful to Caitlin Clark that we're moreover watching this,'" she told BI. "We don't really want you to watch it then, because you're not appreciating each nan different players. She's good, but there's truthful galore astonishing players."

College hoops players Inés Gimenez, 22, and Nitzan Amar, 23, are ecstatic astir nan early of their sport.

Inés Gimenez and Nitzan Amar airs together connected nan New York City sidewalk of nan title parade.

Inés Gimenez, left, and Nitzan Amar, right. Dan Latu/Business Insider

The hoops teammates astatine Manhattan University successful nan Bronx came to nan parade pinch nan dream that they mightiness beryllium nan players connected nan floats 1 day.

"We some decorativeness assemblage this year," Amar told Business Insider. "The scheme is to spell pro adjacent year."

Gimenez, from Spain, and Amar, from Israel, said watching nan detonation of support for women's hoops successful New York City and nan United States has been exhilarating.

"I person friends that said they would ne'er watch a WNBA crippled — and now they're superfans," Gimenez said. "It's not overwhelming. We merit it."

Gimenez attended nan title last connected Sunday astatine nan Barclays Center successful Brooklyn and was inspired by nan electrical atmosphere.

"I've ne'er seen a women's, aliases moreover a men's, hoops crippled pinch that environment," Gimenez said. "Seeing that arsenic a player, it's conscionable crazy."

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