New York, NY—–New York City celebrated its first professional basketball championship in 51 years with a festive ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday morning, followed by an afternoon rally at City Hall in honor of the Liberty.
The Liberty secured their historic victory by defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in an overtime thriller of a decisive Game 5 on Sunday night, marking the franchise’s first championship after 27 seasons of striving for success. The parade through Lower Manhattan was a spectacular sight, with paper raining down as the team celebrated.
At City Hall, Coach Sandy Brondello reflected on the journey to the championship, emphasizing that this victory was built on lessons learned from last year’s Finals loss to the Las Vegas Aces. “From Day 1 [this year], I could see it in their eyes,” she told the crowd. “Every time we put our hands in [during huddles], the word was ‘hot’. That’s what the players came up with because we knew that if we wanted to raise this trophy that was what was needed.”
Among the thousands gathered were New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Mayor Eric Adams, all of whom joined fans to celebrate the team’s monumental achievement.
Sabrina Ionescu expressed the significance of the occasion, saying, “To see how many people were in the crowd, smiling and celebrating the Liberty, really puts into perspective what it means to bring a championship to this city. I can’t put into words what it means to be a part of this community. I think I’m a New Yorker now.”

The parade route was filled with fans of all ages, many wearing jerseys of their favorite players. Jonquel Jones carried her Finals MVP trophy atop her float, while Stewart and Ionescu mingled with fans, high-fiving and snapping selfies. The Liberty also brought back former mascot Maddie for the festivities.
After the parade, the Liberty continued their celebration with a rally at Barclays Center, where the beloved mascot Ellie the Elephant performed alongside rapper Lil Mama.
New York has a rich history of ticker-tape parades, with over 200 held since the tradition began in 1886 during the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The last parade honoring a women’s sports team took place in 2019 when the U.S. women’s soccer team celebrated their World Cup victory.
“On behalf of 20 million incredibly proud New Yorkers, I welcome our champion women home,” Governor Hochul proclaimed, thanking Liberty owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai for their support of the team. “Let’s do it again next year.”
The Canyon of Heroes stretches approximately one mile from Battery Park through the Financial District, concluding at City Hall. This parade marked the first time a professional basketball title was celebrated in this manner, as the 1973 NBA champion New York Knicks were only honored with a City Hall ceremony.

The last sports team to receive a ticker-tape parade was the 2019 U.S. women’s soccer team, while the New York Giants were recognized after their Super Bowl victory in 2012.
Breanna Stewart, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time MVP, echoed her coach’s sentiments, stating, “We are not done yet, but we are going to appreciate … this moment.”
Jonquel Jones, the Finals MVP, also shared her joy: “It means everything. Just look at everybody out here — the parade, New York City.”
The celebrations concluded at City Hall, where players received keys to the city, before continuing with the festivities at Barclays Center later that night.