The Women’s National Basketball Association continues its strategic push to elevate both the Commissioner’s Cup tournament and showcase the league’s brightest talent to expanding audiences nationwide. Tuesday night’s marquee matchup between the undefeated defending champion New York Liberty (9-0) and the struggling Chicago Sky (2-6) drew significant attention from high-profile spectators, including basketball royalty Vanessa Bryant and her three daughters.
The widow of late NBA legend Kobe Bryant brought her family to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to witness the on-court action firsthand, as documented through the official WNBA social media accounts. While the contest itself proved non-competitive with Liberty securing an 85-66 victory that was even more lopsided than the final score indicated, the league’s marquee players delivered the kind of compelling performance that justifies the organization’s marketing investment.
The post-game interactions between the Bryant family and WNBA stars provided additional promotional value, creating memorable moments that extend the league’s reach beyond traditional basketball audiences. Sabrina Ionescu spearheaded Liberty’s offensive attack with an efficient 23-point performance, converting nine of fourteen field goal attempts while contributing seven assists, four steals, and two blocks in a well-rounded statistical showcase.
Two-time WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart complemented Ionescu’s efforts with eighteen points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, demonstrating the veteran leadership that has made Liberty the league’s early-season standard. The Bryant family undoubtedly took special notice of Los Angeles native Kennedy Burke, who provided a spark off the bench with fifteen points in twenty-two minutes while shooting a perfect three-for-three from beyond the three-point arc.
The evening represented exactly the type of star-studded, celebrity-attended showcase that WNBA leadership envisions as the league continues building its brand and expanding its cultural footprint beyond traditional sports audiences.