"Mom on the Rise"
the Traveling Homeschooler
by Kristina Brooke
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July 16th, 2010

The WNBA: Basketball at it’s finest

On Sunday, July 11, 2010, I took the family to their first WNBA game at Madison Square Garden (thanks to the One 2 One Network for providing us with three free tickets). My husband is an ex-NBA fan who has a love for basketball, but has grown sick of the current NBA game and it’s players. I love basketball. I was a baller in high school, long before there was a WNBA, and was supposed to play in college. Unfortunately, I suffered a knee injury ending my college career before it started. This game was special for me because I was able introduce basketball to my four year old daughter. So we jumped at the chance to get back to the Garden for a professional game.

We drove down the Henry Hudson Parkway to Manhattan from our Yonkers home with ease and parked on 9^th Avenue between 33^rd and 34^th Streets, for free thanks to Sunday parking rules. The two block stroll was pleasant thanks to a nice breeze that cooled what had to be a 90*F afternoon and highlighted by the site of the circular structure that is the Garden with the Empire State Building in the backdrop.

The New York Liberty were playing the Chicago Sky and the game was incredible. The WNBA is professional basketball at its best. The players play their hearts out with an intensity that could only be maintained by people who truly love basketball. It was great to see the teamwork and fundamentals displayed during each offensive possession as you could see each set play develop right before your eyes. Someone who wants to learn or teach basketball should use WNBA games as visuals. The game was great as the Liberty were down by nine at the half and clawed their way back in the last seconds of the game to win 57-54.

The fans were rabid as they cheered for the Liberty and I have been to a lot of games and never have seen so much fan excitement for a regular season game. The fans are loyal too as we sat next to a women who drives down over two hours from Northern Connecticut to catch every weekend home game and the Liberty honored a season ticket holder who has purchased her season tickets every year since the Liberty’s creation in 1997. It really stuck out how much the WNBA interacts with its fans. They have fan contests between every quarter. They have several raffles throughout the game. Most commercial breaks pass with dance shows performed by very talented kids who also launch t-shirts into the crowd. Half time entertainment included a Zumba Fitness demo performed by 160 instructors and members. Overall, the entertainment level is high and well worth the price of admission with tickets ranging from $10 to $260 per ticket for the Liberty.

It didn’t take long before my husband and I were screaming for “our” Liberty and my daughter was dancing on her seat and cheering “Let’s Go Liberty” and “De-Fense” with the PA Announcer. We also received passes to an autograph session after the game but had to leave before it started. Luckily those passes are good until August so we may be able to use them again.

The first thing we did when we got home was to start planning our next game. I plan on picking up season tickets next season because we are hooked. If you are looking for excellent family fun then the WNBA is for you.

* thanks to my husband who helped write this review.

Disclosure Policy: Compensation Level I: Kristina Brooke received three tickets to the WNBA game. All content is solely her own and review is based on her own experiences. For more information regarding disclosure policy at Mom on the Rise please see http://www.mom on the rise.com/about/disclosure.

Hi Kristina. You know, I don’t think we ever discussed this – hard to believe there’s something we didn’t discuss – but my Dad is a basketball lover and St. John’s alum who had me going to college games from the time I could walk.
I mention this because over the years I’ve watched his viewing habits change to a point where he only watches WNBA for exactly the reasons you mention. He swears it is the only way to see true, heartfelt playing.
My husband teases him that it’s just to watch the ladies, but I know how over the years he’s been searching for the basketball playing of his youth. For a while it was college, but I think he’s gotten disheartened with that and now it’s WNBA and an occasional high school game if he can catch it.
We’ll definitely have to go when I get back
Lorri´s last blog ..Never underestimate the power of a great story

kristinabrookeTwitter:momontherise

Wow. I never knew that. And you are right, it IS hard to believe that we never talked about this before. I feel his pain. It is so hard to watch Basketball games when the heart is gone- where the players are too busy being famous. It’s the reason the whole Lebron James thing got me so upset. Where is the genuine love of the sport. The WNBA was AMAZING! I can’t wait for you to get back. Next summer we will have to go to as many games as we can. Thanks for commenting.