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'History makers': Crowds flood Brooklyn streets for WNBA draft
By
Elizabeth Shwe
Published Apr 15, 2024
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Elizabeth Shwe/Gothamist
By
Elizabeth Shwe
Published Apr 15, 2024
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It was a quick turnaround for women college basketball players who were heading into one of the most anticipated drafts in WNBA history, hosted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene.
As expected, the Indiana Fever selected Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark as the first overall pick of the draft for WNBA’S 28th season, which tips off in May. The hometown New York Liberty picked Ole Miss guard Marquesha Davis 11th overall.
Raymond McKenzie lives in Flatbush and said he was excited because this year's class of ballers is special.
"These are history makers," McKenzie said. "It's big now. It's no small WNBA. It's the WNBA draft. That's what brought me out."
A line wraps around the corner outside the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Elizabeth Shwe/Gothamist
Andrea Crawford was cheering outside of BAM, which sold out its 1,000-seat capacity for the draft this year. Crawford spoke with excitement while watching the livestream from her phone with her daughter.
“I could have been home watching, but I wanted to be in the moment,” she said. “The suspense out here is very nerve racking.”
Hours before the draft started Monday evening, dozens of people crowded around the front steps of BAM, hoping to get a glimpse of players entering the venue. A line to get inside wrapped around the corner of BAM as the draft approached.
Lauren Cunfer from Crown Heights brought her WNBA basketball that her friend gifted her for Christmas this year, hoping to get it signed by one of the players. She said she came to BAM in person to be a part of the energy, but was going to watch the draft at home since she didn’t get tickets inside.
“I just love the excitement and drama and community around sports so it can feel a little disappointing when you notice other people aren’t as excited as you are,” she said. “This was the first year my friends started watching with me.”
She said she started going to Liberty games last year when she moved to Brooklyn.
WNBA fans Amelia Dawson and Sena Dennison Lane have been playing basketball for nearly two years.
Elizabeth Shwe/Gothamist
Amelia Dawson and Sena Dennison Lane have been playing basketball for nearly two years and have been keeping up with Iowa games. They passed by BAM after dance practice and landed free tickets to the draft an hour before it started, thanks to someone in line who happened to have some extras.
“It’s really inspiring for me because I love playing basketball,” Lane said.
Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall pick by the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024 in New York City.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Nya Weeks said her first in-person WNBA game was a Liberty game when she was a child and said her first jersey was a Teresa Weatherspoon jersey, who was picked by the Liberty in the WNBA’s inaugural draft in 1997, and now coaches the Chicago Sky.
“I'm just excited that other people are finally hype about the same thing I’m hype about all the time,” Weeks said.
Weeks came to the draft with Deidree Goldbourne, who is a season ticket holder for the Liberty.
“We’re never going to be able to feel something like this again. Everybody’s excited,” she said.
Nya Weeks and Deidree Goldbourne remember their favorite WNBA moments over the last several decades.
Elizabeth Shwe/Gothamist
Goldbourne said she’s seen the league take huge strides over the years as the players have garnered larger platforms to tell their stories.
“Everybody wants to be a part of it now. I just hope that those who are a part of it pay homage to those who were prior to them,” Goldbourne said.
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Elizabeth Shwe
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