The New York Liberty Championship Parade

New York Liberty Guard Sabrina Ionescu during the championship parade on Thursday, October 22, 2024.

Fans before the parade begins

Someone tossing shredded paper as confetti outside an office window

Department of Sanitation during the parade

New York Liberty's Timeless Torches dancers

New York Liberty's Timeless Torches dancers

New York Liberty's Timeless Torches dancers

New York Liberty's Timeless Torches dancers

New York Liberty's Timeless Torches dancersNew York Liberty's Timeless Torches dancers

Timeless Torches during the parade

Yolanda Laney, former college basketball player and mother of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton

Kayla Thornton (NY Liberty Forward) during the parade

NY Liberty Guard-Forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton during parade

NY Liberty Guard-Forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton during parade

NY Liberty Guard-Forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton during parade

NY Liberty Guard-Forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton during parade

NY Liberty Guard Courtney Vandersloot during the parade

NY Liberty Guard Courtney Vandersloot throwing candy during the parade

NY Liberty Guard Courtney Vandersloot during the parade

A fan with an Ellie the Elephant mask during the parade

New York Liberty Center (and Most Valuable Player) Jonquel Jones with the MVP trophy

New York Liberty Center (and Most Valuable Player) Jonquel Jones with the MVP trophy

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Brooklyn United during the parade

Maddie, the original mascot of the New York Liberty during their tenure at Madison Square Garden

Maddie, the original mascot of the New York Liberty during their tenure at Madison Square Garden

DSNY employee during the parade

New York Liberty Forward Breanna Stewart during the parade

New York Liberty Forward Breanna Stewart during the parade

New York Liberty Forward Breanna Stewart during the parade

New York Liberty Forward Breanna Stewart during the parade

Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Attorney General Letitia James during parade

Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Attorney General Letitia James during parade

The WNBA championship trophy during the parade

The WNBA championship trophy during the parade

Ellie the Elephant during the parade

Ellie the Elephant during the parade

New York Liberty Guard Sabrina Ionescu during the parade

The fan in the foreground has been attending NY Liberty games since 1999

After defeating the Minnesota Lynx during game 5 of the 2024 WNBA finals on Sunday, October 20th, 2024, The New York Liberty had their first ever WNBA championship win since the league began in 1997. On Thursday, October 24th, New York City threw the team a championship ticker tape parade which departed Battery Park down Broadway to City Hall.

I attended the parade on Thursday morning where I documented some of the players, fans, elected officials, and mascots* to help celebrate the team’s historic win. Thanks to three City Councilmembers (Crystal Hudson, Chi Ossé, and Tiffany Cabán), October 20th will now be New York Liberty day in NYC, and the team received a proclamation at City Hall post parade.

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*Maddie the Golden Retriever was the mascot for the team’s early years when their home court was at Madison Square Garden. When the team moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Maddie was retired and the phenomenal Ellie the Elephant was created.