The New York Liberty hosted its 3rd annual “The Brooklyn Dribble,” on Aug. 8, honoring players, fans and defining moments that have shaped the organization since its inaugural season in 1997.
Led by by Fogo Azul, a women-led samba reggae drumline marching band and New York Liberty’s legendary players like Teresa Witherspoon, Crystal Robinson, and Carolyn Swords, more than 2,000 fans dribbled basketballs along a mile-long scenic route through Brooklyn Bridge Park, with the East River and the Manhattan skyline serving as a backdrop. The parade culminated at Liberty Fan Fest at Pier 2.
Highlights included autograph sessions with Liberty legends; interactive activations, games, prizes, refreshments and basketballs and commemorative t-shirts giveaway; and on-stage performances by the Timeless Torches, Torch Patrol and Lil Torches — plus the highly-anticipated arrival of everyone’s favorite mascot, Ellie the Elephant.
Robinson, who played for the team for seven seasons from 1999 through 2005, noted that Brooklyn Dribble reminded her of the WNBA’s early outreach events.
The Liberty is one of three remaining original WNBA franchises, and the team won its historic first-ever WNBA Championship victory in 2024.
“This is where I think WNBA was built. When I played, this was grassroots marketing. I think that it’s a major part of what we do in the WNBA; I hope this part never goes away,” the WNBA trailblazer said, praising Liberty fans as the best fan base in the WNBA.
“[The fans] are extremely dedicated. When we played, there were lots of fans that had jersey numbers [and] people’s names tattooed. We’ve always had a great fan base here. This is the best fan base in the WNBA,” Robinson said.Swords signed with the Liberty in 2015 and played for the team for two seasons. She paid homage to the Liberty players that paved the way for new generations of female athletes, inspiring people to become the best versions of themselves and follow their dreams.
“I definitely benefited from watching the first players of the league, and because I was a young girl when the league was established, it was really great to have that really tangible example that I could grow up and be a professional basketball player,” Swords said.
Teresa Witherspoon joined the New York Liberty for the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997 and was on the team’s roster until 2003. The five-time All‐Star and two‐time Defensive Player of the Year credited the Liberty’s success to the devoted fan base, who made the Texas native feel like a New Yorker.
“We came here. We weren’t New Yorkers. We were country girls. Everybody’s like, ‘Country girls in New York? Sue Wicks is the only New Yorker,’” Witherspoon recalled. “This is home for us now. We adopted the attitude; we adopted the grit and grind; we adopted what this city is all about: never give up. Never give in. We win, and that’s what we’re about.”
Brooklyn resident Lolita Beckwith has been a season subscriber since 1997 and enjoyed the camaraderie among the Liberty fans while celebrating women’s sports.
“I remember as a kid, I was teased for being a sports fan. So to see all of this now — I’m old, so this is like the 70s — but to see all of this now is incredible. To see all these women’s baseball and softball leagues getting national attention, plus the WNBA, has been fantastic. I love to see it,” Beckwith said.
Lavonnia Manning, who hails from the “World’s Borough,” Queens, attended the fan festivities for the first time. She has been a Liberty fan since she was a kid because the team felt like family.
“Teresa Witherspoon is my favorite player,” Manning shared. “[The Liberty] bring a lot of excitement to New York itself. I’m expecting to see Ellie because I love Ellie. I want to see her so bad.”
New Jersey resident Jacaria Moore has been a fan of the WNBA’s most iconic franchises since its founding in 1996. The former athlete told Brooklyn Paper that the team inspired her to play basketball and softball, and she noted the importance of female athletes as role models for a new generation of players.
“How the women are carrying themselves-not just playing basketball, but they have other ventures outside of the game, and promoting the love. They play with passion. They play with heart. When you love a sport, you give 100%, and that’s what I love about the New York Liberty,” Moore said.
