Even if they hadn’t been standing in line waiting to flash their QR codes, the fans would have been easy to pick out. As they emerged from side streets and subway stations and made their way toward Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on September 8 to watch the New York Liberty take on the Las Vegas Aces, many wore oversized seafoam green jerseys that instantly identified them (though I did spot a few rebels donning gray Aces merch). Some had accessorized to match: basketball earrings, purses, and face paint; foam fingers and Statue of Liberty headpieces. Several girls even wore homemade bracelets or necklaces spelling out the names of their favorite players à la Swifties attending the Eras Tour.
When the doors opened an hour before the 4 p.m. start, a steady trickle of individuals, couples, and families was already creeping toward the arena’s entrance. As tip-off neared, that trickle turned into a torrent; at one point, two parallel sets of lines stretched to the end of the block. 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 WNBA’s broad appeal—and newfound visibility. With buzzy new stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese making waves on the court—along with legendary vets like Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart continuing to break records and push the game forward—the WNBA is enjoying a meteoric and much-deserved rise and loads of mainstream appreciation. Just look at the stats: As of May 2024, some 400,000 people had already attended WNBA games, marking a 26-year high in opening-month attendance, according to a June news release from the league; and more than half of all 2024 games sold out, a whopping 156% increase from the 2023 season. As the WNBA announced on September 9, the Liberty-Aces game ended up joining those ranks, with an audience of 15,393.
Father-daughter duos made up a not-insignificant portion of the crowd. Some dads told me they wanted an activity to do with their girls, while others say they are simply passionate about basketball in any form. Some dads felt that women’s sports had been historically overlooked and wanted to do their part to change that. “These games are a party for two hours,” Jeffrey, 44, told me, standing near an ice cream truck with his six-year-old daughter, Perry. “It’s a love fest, I think, for a young girl who loves sports, to see other women that are amazing at what they do and deserve our respect and appreciation.”
“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. One dad—Ryan, 37—said he likes bringing his almost-two-year-old son, Bedford, to Liberty games to show him at an early age that basketball isn’t just for guys: “Sports are great for everybody, and it’s not just a men’s thing—he’s got a little brother at home too, but the future is female.”)
When I asked folks who they were most excited to see compete, nearly every father and daughter had the same answer: “Sabrina,” as in Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, a league-wide standout who helped Team USA snag its eighth-straight gold medal in women’s basketball at the Paris Games in August. “I like Sabrina for how she shoots threes, and I like how Breanna is really, like, tall and she gets a lot of rebounds and stuff. And she’s good at shooting threes too,” Emmy, 10, said.
Here’s 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. A’ja’s my favorite player, so I got to come check A’ja out.
You’re a big Aces fan?
Deryl: Oh, no, I'm a big Liberty fan, I’m not here to really root for A’ja. I’m an A’ja fan as a player, but I’m 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?
Kalyn: Yes. Well, I don’t play yet. I’m going to play this year.
Deryl: She’s starting seventh grade, so she’s on the team this coming year.
And are there any other players you’re excited to see play today?
Deryl: Definitely. Breanna Stewart is the best player in the league, and if Jonquel Jones does what she’s supposed to do, the Liberty’s going to get their title.
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. We’re very excited about today’s game.
What do you two like about the WNBA, and how long have you been fans?
Daria: We’re new fans. Ever since this past year. We watched UConn and Iowa, which was huge. Ever since then, once that new rookie class came into the W, it’s just been about watching all their games.
Dave: What I found really amazing today, being here, is the effect the WNBA is having on the young girls in the world today. It’s amazing to see. And I don’t know if it’s this year alone that really started it—I mean, I know it’s been around for over 25 years—but this year it’s been something else, and it’s really creating a mark on the young girls today. It’s awesome. It really is.
Daria: We just went out for lunch and it seems like the whole restaurant was wearing stuff for the Liberty. It’s incredible. You see it happen for the NBA or even the MLB, and it’s just so cool to see everyone supporting the Liberty. Little girls with their posters. It’s just an incredible environment to be around.
How’d 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. The Minnesota Lynx were in the WNBA championship, like, 10 years ago, and I got to go to the game for, like, 30 bucks. 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. I’m a basketball fan, coach basketball and everything else, so I’ve been watching the WNBA since they started.
Oh wow. Like father, like daughter?
TJ: [laughing] Hopefully. We’ll see.
Frank: This our fourth game of the season. One of the players, her daughter goes to Vera’s school—Breanna Stewart. So we got into it through that. She likes watching. 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 you’re especially excited to see this time around?
Ella: A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum.
And, Adam, as a dad, what do you like about the WNBA and going to the games?
Adam: I just love that it gives me something to do to hang out with my daughters, spend time with them. There’s some good role models in the league to have my girls look up to.
Brendan: Longtime sports fans and proponents of women’s sports in general. Love the movement and the momentum behind the WNBA. This is actually our first WNBA game, so we’re very, very excited.
So I see you’re wearing an Aces shirt, Ava. Are you two Aces fans?
Ava: I am, yeah. I’ve just recently gotten more into the WNBA, but this is my second game.
Nice! Why the Aces? I feel like I’ve talked to a lot of Liberty fans so far, so I’m curious.
Ava: I love the players on the team and I guess I just watch a lot of their games. But I’m not that experienced yet. I feel like I’m flawed sometimes, like, “Oh my God, I don’t know that much.”
You’re good! I feel like so many people have gotten into it really recently too. And Bruno, what do you, as a dad, like about the WNBA?
Bruno: I’m just supporting her and her passion.
Ava: [interjecting] But he liked it when we went to the Seattle Storm game on Thursday!
Bruno: Yeah. The last game on Thursday too—it was a lot of fun.
What brings you out here?
Evan: We’re big basketball fans. We wanted to see the game and we realized the season is almost over, so we made it out.
Corrine, what are you looking forward to about the game?
Corinne: Who wins.
Very fair answer.
Evan: I’m looking forward to seeing the elephant mascot.
Are you big fans of the WNBA?
Perry: Yeah. We’re season ticket holders.
So you got to get your money’s worth too!
Jeffrey: Yup. 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 doesn’t need to be. She should just enjoy it. As long as she enjoys it, that’s the best part.
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