Basketball is a welcoming space, whether it’s in the parks of Brooklyn or beyond. That inclusivity drives the game and makes it something everyone can bond over.
For the New York Liberty and WNBA, that inclusivity is a key part of their respective missions.
Her Time to Play
During the WNBA Finals, the Liberty hosted the annual ‘Her Time to Play‘ clinic in Brooklyn. Even during a tense, action-packed series, the Liberty made time to be present for the community. Kayla Thornton spoke about that and the importance of being present with the young fans.
“This [event] kind of just takes your mind off of [The Finals] a little bit,” Thornton said. “It kind of gives you a breather, a little fresh start to be around the kids and just to enjoy life and to understand why we’re really doing this. It’s just great. We have a big thing that we have coming up, but just take time to be with these kids, it’s great.”
To begin the event, Thornton, Nyara Sabally and Jocelyn Willoughby participated in a panel moderated by Arielle Chambers. During the discussion, the players talked about their journeys as young women in basketball. The players shared how valuable it was to have athletes they looked up to coming to camps and building relationships with them. The players talked about their journeys and the people who supported them and nourished their love of basketball. During the discussion, Willoughby talked about how inspiring it was to have players come to campus and speak to them.
After the panel, Chambers spoke to The Local W about the importance of the event.
“’Her Time to Play; is absolutely my favorite partnership because I know y’all heard me say a couple of times, ‘the WNBA is so important.’ But this is the actual display,” Chambers said. “It puts it on display. And so to be able to bridge the gap between youth basketball and WNBA players is not only important, but it’s necessary. It’s necessary because I remember when I was a young girl and I was able to be around NC State women’s basketball, and how it shaped my life and look at what I was able to turn into. So if they reach any kid today, then the impact is going to be lasting.”
Throughout the evening, the kids got to ask the players questions, learn about their stories and take part in basketball drills with them. Getting a chance to learn from the pros in a close, intimate setting like this is a memorable experience and one those kids will never forget.
Liberty at Home and Abroad
The NBA hosted its Global Game on Jan. 11, featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Liberty’s hometown neighbors, the Brooklyn Nets. Although the Nets lost, they made a lot of new fans during their stay in Paris. One Liberty star made a surprise visit for the fans in Paris and provided some late Christmas gifts!
It’s been a pretty busy offseason for Sabrina Ionescu. She played with Team USA after the WNBA season wrapped up and has continued working with her SI20 Foundation. While in Paris, Ionescu spoke with Shaï Mamou of Swish Swish about her experience meeting the young Parisian kids at the ‘Her Time to Play’ event.
“I wanted to come see girls so I could be a role model for these girls who love basketball so much and give back to basketball what it gave me,” Ionescu said. “It was really powerful for me to be able to come here and see them all so happy.”
When she returned stateside, Ionescu held a basketball showcase for high school students in the Bay Area
Events like these go a long way in expanding the footprint of the WNBA. With stars like Ionescu active in the community and involved all year long, it builds a bridge to fans at home and across the world.
Keep Growing
In August, The Local W spoke to A’ja Wilson about making the game more accessible. Wilson said in part, “If you can see her, you can be her,” and it’s something that fans should take to heart. We asked Chambers about events like ‘Her Time to Play’ laying the groundwork for women’s sports to continue growing.
“If you have a player that you can connect with, you’re going to want to follow the game more,” Chambers said. “That’s as base level as you can get. You’re gonna want to consume a game when you’re familiar with these athletes. And so now they met the three of them. They’re gonna want to support them on Sunday, and it’s something as basic as that. Just that introduction, breaking the ice and getting rid of that screen that’s in between us. and face-to-face interaction is important.
“And how do I think it plays into the growth of women’s sports? It gives more visibility, it goes more relatability it gives more tangibility to everything.”
Jocelyn Willoughby added:
“I think events like this are a great platform for [giving the next generation a helping hand],” Willoughby said. “And so maybe some of the girls here today will see us down the line and be like, ‘I’ll remember this event’ or ‘I’ll remember something that was said that really spoke to me and encouraged me to keep going’ or ‘encouraged me to love the game and stay with it.’”
The WNBA continues to ascend; fans flock to the games in droves, the players are excellent on and off the court and the league is due to become even bigger in size and media presence. As it grows, the league must stay involved in the community and build those relationships with young fans. Seasons come and go, but those close, interpersonal moments with the fans can last a lifetime.