NYC to throw Liberty a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes

The confetti fell all over the court inside Barclays Center on Sunday night after the Liberty beat Minnesota in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to secure the franchise’s first league championship. And soon it will be falling again — outdoors.

The team will be honored with a ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday beginning at 10 a.m.

The parade will be followed by a ceremony at City Hall “to say thank you to our heroes,” Mayor Eric Adams said Monday in a video posted on X.

“We are excited,” Adams said. “Congratulations New York Liberty for winning your first WNBA title. You made us proud and we’re going to make you proud.”

Adams also put out a congratulatory statement late Sunday night:

“From the start of the season to the very last game, the New York Liberty were focused on one singular objective: winning,” Adams said. “Tonight, they delivered a historic win — making our great city proud by becoming champions, the first in the franchise’s history.

“At a time when the rest of the country is finally acknowledging the endless talent in our WNBA, we are proud to have New York City bring home the trophy. To our WNBA champions, thank you for being a role model to our city, and showcasing the values of grit, determination, and hard work.

“Now, we can’t wait to celebrate off the court and throw you the parade you deserve down the Canyon of Heroes!”

The parade will begin at Battery Park and head north on Broadway to City Hall. There also will be a fan celebration at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barclays Center.

More information about obtaining tickets for the City Hall and Barclays Center events can be found at liberty.wnba.com/ 2024champions.

Five buildings were set to be lit up Monday night in Liberty seafoam: City Hall, The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building and the borough halls in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

The Liberty are the first New York City-based pro basketball team to win a championship in 51 years. The 1973 Knicks were the last to achieve the feat. The 1976 Nets, who were based at Nassau Coliseum and won the ABA title, had been the last New York pro basketball team to capture a title.

“I’ve been like manifesting this moment for a while, and there’s no feeling like it, this game,” Breanna Stewart said after the clinching 67-62 overtime victory. “Credit to Minnesota. They gave us a tough series. And the fans have been amazing everywhere we’ve gone.

“But to be able to bring a championship to New York, first ever in franchise history, it’s an incredible feeling. And I literally can’t wait to continue to celebrate with the city because I know it’s going to be bonkers.”