In the Scrum: Bridging Cultures
Discussing two recent Liberty events that bridge culture and community
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?
The New York Liberty plays in one of, if not the most diverse community in the world: Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn hosts various cultures and people from all walks of life. The organization has done well to reach out to the community and honor the cultures of its fans. Two events held within the past month exemplifying this were the West Indian Day celebrations leading into West Indian Night and the Brooklyn Dribble held on Aug. 10.
Ready for Di Road
On Sept. 2, the United States celebrated Labor Day, which honors the achievements of American workers. In Brooklyn, Labor Day also marked the annual West Indian Day Parade, a time for Caribbean people to celebrate their roots and customs. The West Indian Day Parade has become a staple for the Caribbean community, where Brooklyn has become a sort of mecca. Many people come from their respective islands to Brooklyn to partake in the festivities and see family members who have moved to New York City. Brooklyn has one of the highest concentrations of Caribbeans outside of the region. The parade, whose journey passes along the significant Eastern Parkway, is known for the donning of flags, colorful costumes, and musical styles.
Jonquel Jones, who hails from Freeport, Bahamas, had the opportunity to partake in the festivities this year. Jones served as grand marshal for one of the floats.
In a video package showing Jones’ day in the parade, she said, “It just feels really good when people welcome me with open arms, and you have a place that celebrates the different cultures.”
In the same package, Jones hinted that there might be a joint Bahamian and New York Liberty float for next year’s edition of the Parade.
On Sept. 5, the Liberty held the second installment of “West Indian Night,” allowing fans to celebrate Caribbean culture inside Barclays Center. Different activations were held, such as steel pan music, branded T-shirts, and more. Assistant coach Olaf Lange wore Jones’ Bahamian-inspired Player Exclusive of the Nike KD 17, which Jones got for the team and staff.
West Indian Night coincided with the Liberty facing the Seattle Storm, with a chance to sweep the regular season series. Jones, who finished with five of New York's 10 blocks, spearheaded a tremendous defensive effort. It was just the fourth time in Liberty history that the team had eight steals and 10 blocks in a game. That showing was the first time New York did that in a win since July 16, 2015. They also held the Storm to just 70 points, their 11th time holding an opponent to 70 or fewer points this season (tops in the W).
For Caribbean Liberty fans, not only did they get to celebrate their heritage, but they also saw the first-ever WNBA MVP from the Caribbean register a Liberty career high in blocks. It was perhaps the most fitting way to close out a week of celebrating Caribbean roots.
“It’s amazing,” Jones said of the week’s festivities. “Just to go out there to the parade and see all of the different Caribbean cultures be represented, and everyone was in a festive mood, it really felt good to be out there and be embraced. The same thing goes with our fans, they mean a lot, but to be in Brooklyn where there is so much diversity, especially West Indian and Caribbean diversity, it means a lot to represent that as well. So the fact that the Liberty have a night where people can come together and see themselves in me and me in them, it means a lot.”
The installment of West Indian Night was just a reminder of how the Liberty continually aim to include and promote a variety of cultures. Kennedy Burke, who has Panamanian roots, appreciated this fact.
“It's a beautiful thing, honestly, because not a lot of people know about these other countries that are around the world,” Burke said. “I feel like this night really showed that we have a really true appreciation for all cultures and all countries.”
Another brief moment reflecting Caribbean culture happened on Sept. 8. New York faced the Las Vegas Aces, which brought out a cadre of stars. One of these was former Warrior and incoming Maverick, Klay Thompson, who shares Bahamian roots with Jones through his father, Mychal. Thompson donned a Jones Liberty jersey to showcase their shared background.
New York will continue celebrating different cultures with the upcoming “Noche Latina” game scheduled for Sept. 15. Noche Latina is the Liberty’s way of honoring and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which is held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Community Collab
On Aug. 10, the Liberty hosted a community event, “The Brooklyn Dribble.” The free event open to the public allowed kids and families to dribble basketballs along a mile-long path in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Fogo Azul, a marching band based in the city, provided the soundtrack for the trek. After the journey, participants had the opportunity to participate in the Liberty Fan Fest.
There were food trucks, face painting, hair styling stations, slime stations, an interactive fitness class from Shape Up NYC, and other activities at this fan fest. However, one of the main attractions was a live performance by hip-hop legend and NY’s own MC Lyte. Also in attendance were Liberty CEO Keia Clarke, Kayla Thornton, and Kennedy Burke.
An event like this would not be possible without the investment that Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai have made in this franchise since acquiring it in 2019. Clarke is cognizant of this as well.
“I think the first investment is really moving the team to the Barclays Center,” Clarke said. “I hate to be so repetitive about that, but it has meant all the difference. Also investment in facilities. There's a locker room that's devoted to the Liberty in our building that helps our players feel at home. There's investment in staffing on both the basketball side and the business side. I can't put an event on like this if I don't have the support team and the talent that it would require to execute an event such as this. I think the integration into BSE (Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment) has been instrumental in the way that this team has grown as well. We have more mindshare. We have more people who are able to come with new ideas, innovative ideas, and to push this team along to be the true championship caliber franchise that it is.”
A duo that the Liberty community has taken a liking to is Thornton and Burke, whose humor and genuine fun off the court complements their tenacity and hustle on it. Within seconds of arriving at the fan fest, fans swarmed for photo opportunities and a chance to meet the two.
“It's a lot of fun to hear that a lot of people like us,” Burke said of the duo’s popularity. ”I mean, at the end of day, we're just being ourselves. I just love the connection that we have together, and I always have a great time with KT.”
In only a fashion that fits Thornton, wearing shades and exuding a cool demeanor, she responded simply, “Likewise.”
Thornton and Burke immersed themselves in the fan fest: looking at food items, checking out different booths, and dancing with Liberty faithful. To have two critical contributors to the team directly engaging with the Brooklyn community adds to the Liberty’s brand of inclusivity. To echo Jones’ point about Liberty events, it’s a chance for fans, especially younger fans, to see themselves in Burke and Thornton. Also, vice versa, it’s a chance for Burke and Thornton to engage with fans that have aspirations to be in their position.
The Brooklyn Dribble took place during the Olympics, where multiple Liberty players participated, such as Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu for Team USA, Han Xu for China, Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally for Germany, and Marine Fauthoux (whom the team has the draft rights to) and Marine Johannes for France. The Liberty’s cache of international players has allowed the franchise to increase its international footprint, not just reflecting diversity in Brooklyn but on a world stage. The increased international footprint has also led to multiple Liberty fan communities in various countries.
“I've always looked at the WNBA as a global league,” Clarke said. “Our players, for so many years, and even prior to the WNBA being incepted, have played in other countries. There's always been a twinge of fandom, I think, the digital age, social media and the fact that we are one of the teams that led in having a large number of international players has really garnered us that globalization from a fandom standpoint, from an awareness standpoint, that I think the entire league wants and needs.”
The Liberty continue to put their fanbase’s different cultures to the forefront, which signifies their commitment to diversity. The team, which has players from other areas of the world, acts as a parallel to the city and the world. Basketball has had the effect of bringing different people together. In a city whose iconic bridges connect people from all over, the Liberty do a successful job.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.