The 2026 WNBA season officially tipped off on Friday as the New York Liberty welcomed the Connecticut Sun to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 2024 champions dominated the Sun in the season opener, with New York mayor Zohran Mamdani watching from courtside.
His appearance was highlighted with a post by the WNBA’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“Touchdown at Barclays! New York’s very own Mayor Zohran Mamdani is all smiles at the @nyliberty’s opening night 🤗,” the WNBA handle captioned the post.
In the clip, Mamdani appeared all smiles, waving at the camera as he showed love for his hometown team in their first game of the season. In his presence, the Liberty went on to annihilate the Connecticut Sun, with fans jokingly claiming the mayor was the reason behind the performance.
While most fans were pleased to see Mamdani showing his support for the WNBA, a few were not keen on the idea of mixing sports with politics.
Despite his courtside appearance dividing opinions, Mamdani is unlikely to be bothered, especially after witnessing his team’s superb performance. The Liberty ran riot in their season opener, cruising to a 106-75 blowout win over the Sun and making a strong statement of intent to the rest of the league.
Breanna Stewart led her team from the front, recording a double-double with 31 points and 10 rebounds. Despite missing Sabrina Ionescu in the backcourt, her absence was mitigated by Julie Vanloo’s impressive debut, as the guard posted 12 points and 11 assists while shooting 3-of-4 from the field.
After enduring a tough, injury-ridden 2025 season, the Liberty appear ready to make a statement as they aim to secure their second-ever title this year.
Insider highlights record-breaking feat by New York Liberty in dominant season opener victory
The New York Liberty made a significant statement with their commanding win over the Connecticut Sun in their season opener on Friday. This victory marked the start of a new era in New York as coach Chris DeMarco led his first team in the WNBA, succeeding Sandy Brondello.
The Liberty’s impressive performance not only showcased their skills but also set multiple franchise records, which ESPN insider Alexa Philippou highlighted later.
“The Chris DeMarco Era starts with New York’s highest-scoring season opener in franchise history,” Philippou wrote via X (formerly Twitter). “And is tied for the sixth-most points scored in any game in Liberty history.”
The Liberty will hope to build on this win and string together an early run of victories as the DeMarco era gets underway in New York.
Edited by Arian Kashyap
