Buoyant pop rhythms blasting from nearby speakers contributed to the festive Game Day atmosphere.
(Espresso, anyone?)
The size and diversity of the crowd was a testament to the WNBAs broad appealand newfound visibility.
Dolly Faibyshev
Father-daughter duos made up a not-insignificant portion of the crowd.
Some dads felt that womens sports had been historically overlooked and wanted to do their part to change that.
I wanted to come because I wanted to spend time with my dad, one young girl told me.
(Plenty of young boys were in the crowd too.
And shes good at shooting threes too, Emmy, 10, said.
Heres a look at the scene outside Barclays Center before the game.
Interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
When did you guys start getting into the WNBA?
Deryl:We really started getting into it last year.
We were at four games last year.
We always come to see the Aces.
Ajas my favorite player, so I got to come check Aja out.
Youre a big Aces fan?
Im an Aja fan as a player, but Im a Liberty fan as a team.
And Kalyn, what do you like about the WNBA?
Kalyn:I like basketball and I just want to watch it so I can see other girls play.
Okay, I see.
Do you play basketball at school as well?
Well, I dont playyet.
Im going to play this year.
Deryl:Shes starting seventh grade, so shes on the team this coming year.
And are there any other players youre excited to see play today?
How was the commute in?
The New York City traffic is no joke.
Dave:No joke.
We jumped on a train from Ronkonkoma, came in.
Were very excited about todays game.
What do you two like about the WNBA, and how long have you been fans?
Daria:Were new fans.
Ever since this past year.
We watched UConn and Iowa, which was huge.
Its amazing to see.
Little girls with their posters.
Its just an incredible environment to be around.
Howd you become a WNBA fan?
Sam:Living here in New York and having one of the best WNBA teams.
Yeah, I saw the Liberty play a couple of months ago and they were tremendous.
Sam:We also lived in Minnesota before this, before Bennie was born.
So a mix of having a great team and then just always being able to go and afford it.
Do you and Bennie come to see the WNBA games pretty often then?
Sam:Yeah, absolutely.
I took her to her first game when she was, like, three months old.
This is game number two for her.
TJ:This is my first game.
Like father, like daughter?
TJ:[laughing]Hopefully.
Frank:This our fourth game of the season.
One of the players, her daughter goes to Veras schoolBreanna Stewart.
So we got into it through that.
She likes the popcorn too.
How long have you been WNBA fans?
Ella:Like three years now.
How did you get into it in the first place?
Ella:I just play basketball.
My sister does too, so we just watch the pros play.
Are there any players youre especially excited to see this time around?
Ella:Aja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum.
Theres some good role models in the league to have my girls look up to.
Brendan:Longtime sports fans and proponents of womens sports in general.
Love the movement and the momentum behind the WNBA.
This is actually our first WNBA game, so were very, very excited.
So I see youre wearing an Aces shirt, Ava.
Are you two Aces fans?
Ava:I am, yeah.
Ive just recently gotten more into the WNBA, but this is my second game.
I feel like Ive talked to a lot of Liberty fans so far, so Im curious.
But Im not that experienced yet.
I feel like Im flawed sometimes, like, Oh my God, I dont know that much.
I feel like so many people have gotten into it really recently too.
AndBruno, what do you, as a dad, like about the WNBA?
Bruno:Im just supporting her and her passion.
Ava:[interjecting] But he liked it when we went to the Seattle Storm game on Thursday!
The last game on Thursday tooit was a lot of fun.
What brings you out here?
Evan:Were big basketball fans.
Corrine, what are you looking forward to about the game?
Corinne:Who wins.
Evan:Im looking forward to seeing the elephant mascot.
Are you big fans of the WNBA?
Were season ticket holders.
So you got to get your moneys worth too!
We come to a lot of games and she gets to bring friends to a lot of games.
As a dad, what do you like about the WNBA?
Jeffrey:I think that it promotes incredible positivity.
And she loves it, most importantly.
Is Perry a big basketball player?
Jeffrey:She is!
She takes lessons, she plays in all-girls leagues…
The next Caitlin Clark?
Jeffrey:You know what, she doesnt need to be.
She should just enjoy it.
As long as she enjoys it, thats the best part.
Related:
Get more of SELFs great sports coverage delivered right to your inboxfor free.
