On Saturday at the Barclays Center, the first half of the game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever was marked by high energy from the crowd. A man sitting at floor level held up a sign encouraging the audience to “get loud,” but the already boisterous crowd hardly needed the reminder.
The excitement in the arena stemmed from various sources. Many were eager to see Caitlin Clark, the Fever’s highly anticipated rookie, as she made her professional debut in New York City. Others were die-hard Liberty fans, and a significant number of attendees seemed enthusiastic about both teams.
The game attracted a host of celebrities, with notable figures like tennis legend Billie Jean King, actor Jason Sudeikis, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and actress Amy Ryan sitting courtside. Additionally, the event was graced by basketball luminaries such as Sue Bird, Pau Gasol, and Dawn Staley. Staley, who coaches the South Carolina women’s basketball team, had previously led her team to victory over Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA tournament final earlier this year.
The presence of these stars, combined with the debut of a promising new player, created a charged atmosphere that electrified the entire event.
