Celebration Time! New York Liberty Wins First-Ever WNBA Championship
Oct 20, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; The New York Liberty celebrate after defeating the Minnesota Lynx in overtime to win the 2024 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Mayor Eric Adams Announces Ticker-Tape Parade to Celebrate Win
The New York Liberty’s first-ever WNBA championship will be celebrated as only the Big Apple can with a ticker-tape parade this Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams announced.
The Parade
Members of New York’s first championship professional basketball team in over 50 years will be paraded down the Canyon of Heroes on Broadway in Lower Manhattan starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24, with the festivities concluding with a midday ceremony at City Hall.
A Historic Moment in Sports
The Liberty’s win is a historic moment in sports, as this is the team’s first WNBA title in its 28 years of shooting hoops.
A Time for Celebration
"At a time when the rest of the country is finally acknowledging the endless talent in our WNBA, we are proud to have New York City bring home the trophy," Adams said. "To our WNBA champions, thank you for being a role model to our city, and showcasing the values of grit, determination, and hard work. Now, we can’t wait to celebrate off the court and throw you the parade you deserve down the Canyon of Heroes!"
Additional Celebrations
In addition to a ticker-tape parade, local buildings will be aglow on Monday night in the team’s signature seafoam green color. The buildings to shine in celebration include City Hall, Brooklyn Borough Hall, the David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building, Queens Borough Hall, and Staten Island Borough Hall.
‘Chasing this Dream Since 1997’
It was a long but victorious road for the Big Apple’s hometown team to reach number one. The athletes secured their third win to clinch the title after defeating the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA finals.
"This moment means everything — not only to the Liberty organization, but to our fans and all of New York City," said Keia Clarke, CEO of the New York Liberty. "The Liberty have been chasing this dream since 1997 and after a strategic five-year turnaround, driven by ownership’s vision of rebuilding and regrowing this historic team, we are proud to get back to first and win this championship for New York."
The Greatest Tribute NYC Can Provide
The Liberty is next in line of the city’s more than 200 ticker-tape parades in over 100 years. In a way, the team is going back to the celebration’s roots, when the first ticker-tape parade in NYC was held for another local icon with "Liberty" in her name — the Statue of Liberty.
Conclusion
The New York Liberty’s win is a historic moment in sports, and the city is thrilled to celebrate this achievement with a ticker-tape parade and other festivities. The team’s dedication, determination, and hard work have paid off, and they deserve every bit of this celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a ticker-tape parade?
A: A ticker-tape parade is a parade where paper is torn into strips and thrown from windows and buildings to create a "cascading" effect, traditionally used to celebrate important events, such as athletic championships.
Q: How many ticker-tape parades has NYC held?
A: NYC has held more than 200 ticker-tape parades in over 100 years.
Q: Where will the New York Liberty parade take place?
A: The parade will take place on Broadway in Lower Manhattan, starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24, with festivities concluding at City Hall.
