WNBA champions the New York Liberty transformed the Financial District into a party to celebrate their record-breaking season

WNBA rookie Leonie Fiebich was added to the Liberty’s starting lineup ahead of round one of the playoffs, where she scored 15 points in the first half against the Atlanta Dream.

Brondello has been the Liberty’s head coach since 2022.

The custom piece featured the Liberty’s 2024 playoff series records’ on the sleeves, as well as phrases like “Liberty has a nice ring to it,” all in the team’s signature colors of seafoam green, black, and white.

Queens librarian Webber-Bey grew up attending New York Liberty games since their inaugural 1997 season. With her father as a basketball coach, Webber-Bey loved the sport, but as an athlete herself never saw a future in it.

“I didn’t see a future for me in that sport,” she told Business Insider at the parade on Thursday. “At least I knew every four years you could be in the Olympics as a professional runner, so I picked track and field.”

Now, with the Liberty’s win and the growing success of the WNBA, she hopes young female athletes see a runway for their careers.

“I want, especially the young girls, to know this is an option for you to be a professional athlete,” she said.

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

Sanchez says his four daughters, spanning ages 3 to 11, got into the New York Liberty over the past two years as excitement around the team was building.

“My daughters play for New York City basketball teams, so we’re always going to Liberty games,” Sanchez said.

His two oldest daughters had can’t miss school obligations, but Sanchez was able to take his two youngest superfans to see the parade.

Balancing excitement for the team with their growing popularity can be tricky, Sanchez said. The last time his family of six attended a game at the Barclays Center, it was $145 for each ticket, he said.

“We go to as many games as we can,” Sanchez said. “I want it to explode, but it means less frequent games.”

It’s not just the ticket prices; the girls get swept up in all merchandise, like hats and jerseys, as well.

“Of course, all the girls are like, ‘I want that one!” Sanchez said.

The basketball teammates at Manhattan University in the Bronx came to the parade with the hope that they might be the players on the floats one day.

“We both finish college this year,” Amar told Business Insider. “The plan is to go pro next year.”

Gimenez, from Spain, and Amar, from Israel, said watching the explosion of support for women’s basketball in New York City and the United States has been exhilarating.

“I have friends that said they would never watch a WNBA game — and now they’re superfans,” Gimenez said. “It’s not overwhelming. We deserve it.”

Gimenez attended the championship final on Sunday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and was inspired by the electric atmosphere.

“I’ve never seen a women’s, or even a men’s, basketball game with that environment,” Gimenez said. “Seeing that as a player, it’s just crazy.”