Key to the City of New York Celebration Comes as New York Liberty Wins First-Ever WNBA Championship
City Hosts Ticker Tape Parade, to Light Up City Hall and Municipal Buildings Tonight to Honor National Champions
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today awarded the Key to the City of New York to members of the New York Liberty, the 2024 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) champions. This is the first time in the franchise’s history that the team has won the WNBA Championship. Earlier today, Mayor Adams hosted a ticker tape parade that led down the Canyon of Heroes and ended with a ceremony at City Hall, where he presented the members of the Liberty with Keys to the City.
“Keys to the City are reserved for those who know how to bring home the trophy — true champions — like the New York Liberty,” said Mayor Adams. “Every step of the way, the New York Liberty made our city proud, from making franchise history to securing the best record in the league, to inspiring all New Yorkers that our city is full of champions. I am proud to deliver the highest honor I can offer — a Key to the City — to each member of the New York Liberty, who have created a lasting legacy for our city.”
“The Liberty are proud to bring the WNBA championship to New York, and we are honored to accept this Key to the City. We have been chasing this dream since 1997 and would not be here without this incredible team who showed grit and determination all season long, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, and each and every Liberty legend who paved the way,” said Keia Clarke, CEO, New York Liberty. “We take great pride in what the Liberty built during this historic season, and to all the Liberty fans celebrating across the city and around the world, we thank you. This championship is for you.”
Today, a Key to the City was presented to each of the New York Liberty’s 12 players: Kennedy Burke, Marquesha Davis, Ivana Dojkić, Leonie Fiebich, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Nyara Sabally, Jaylyn Sherrod, Breanna Stewart, Kayla Thornton, and Courtney Vandersloot. Keys were additionally presented to Head Coach Sandy Brondello; Assistant Coaches Roneeka Hodges, Olaf Lange, and Zach O’Brien; and Board of Governors Joe and Clara Wu Tsai.
Founded in 1997, the New York Liberty were one of the eight original franchises of the WNBA. Led by Head Coach Sandy Brondello this year, the New York Liberty had the best record in the league this season, winning 32 games and only losing eight. They defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA finals on Sunday night to win their first-ever championship.
In addition to City Hall, the following city buildings will be lit up seafoam tonight to celebrate the Liberty’s national championship:
The Key to the City of New York was first awarded in 1702 by New York City Mayor Phillip French, when he offered "Freedom of the City" to Viscount Edward Cornbury, governor of New York and New Jersey. By the mid-1800s, it became customary to award the Key to the City of New York as a direct symbol of the city's wish that a guest feel free to come and go at will. Today, the Key to the City of New York is a beloved symbol of civic recognition and gratitude reserved for individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement.
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