The Liberty played their season opener on Friday, and it was a “celebration of their 30th season” that filled Barclays Center with “’90s-esque tributes harkening back to the franchise’s inaugural year in 1997″ (ESPN.com, 5/9). Barclays Center was “jam packed” with 17,615 in attendance for the matchup against the Sun, including N.Y. Mayor Zohran Mamdani (YAHOO SPORTS, 5/9).
The Storm opened their season on Friday against the Valkyries with 14,200 in attendance at Climate Pledge Arena, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, who sat courtside next to Storm CEO & President Alisha Valavanis (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/8).
The Aces got their 2025 WNBA championship rings before their season opener on Saturday. But the Mercury, who were swept by the Aces in the WNBA Finals, won 99-66 in the “largest margin of victory in a season opener for Pheonix.” Aces C A’ja Wilson said, “I hate ceremonies like this. Obviously, you want to enjoy it, but there’s a whole business side of the issue to take care of. It’s hard to compartmentalize that at times.” Aces owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady were “on the court for the pregame ceremony” (ESPN.com, 5/9). The loss snapped the Aces 16-game regular season winning streak dating back to last season that was tied for the second-longest in WNBA history (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/9).
