Coco Gauff stole the spotlight before the opening tip at Barclays Center on June 10 — and it wasn’t with a racket. Fresh off her French Open title, the tennis star drew cheers as she took her courtside seat for the New York Liberty-Chicago Sky clash.
While Breanna Stewart poured in 18 points to lead New York to a win, Gauff’s surprise appearance sparked buzz throughout the arena — and earned praise from Stewart herself, who later called the Grand Slam champion “an inspiration to everyone.”
The atmosphere crackled as fans recognized the 21-year-old tennis sensation, joining the legions of supporters who now find themselves crossing sports boundaries. For the Liberty, already enjoying a perfect 9-0 start to their season, Guaff’s presence added an extra layer of buzz.
Breanna Stewart Hails Gauff as ‘Inspiration to Everyone’
Attendance that night reflected the growing allure of the WNBA as 16,081 fans filled Barclays Center. Off the court, commentary swirled around Gauff’s WNBA appearance. She was sporting an Indigo Blue denim jacket with black knee-length shorts.
Fresh off her dramatic comeback to win the French Open title, her decision to attend the Liberty-Sky game provided a powerful cross-sport moment. According to CBS News, she became the first American woman to win the title since Serena Williams did so in 2015.
What further fuelled the social media frenzy was seeing the Tennis star sitting beside the late Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Natalia, her mother Vanessa, and two other sisters, Bianka and Capri.
Breanna Stewart on Coco Gauff attending the Liberty game tonight
“She said it was her first WNBA game. For it to be a Liberty game is really special for us. Hopefully she’ll come back and she’s an inspiration to everyone” pic.twitter.com/RR3vvrZVqu
— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty) June 11, 2025
In postgame remarks captured by SNYLiberty, Stewart reflected on Gauff’s debut appearance, emphasizing the significance of such support for the league.
“She said it was her first WNBA game,” Stewart said. “For it to be a Liberty game is really special for us. Hopefully, she’ll come back, and she’s an inspiration to everyone.”
Liberty Overpowered Sky With an 85-66 Victory
Stewart continues to lead by example on the court. Her 18-point performance marked yet another chapter in a season in which she balances scoring efficiency with defensive tenacity.
New York dominated early on Tuesday, seizing control from the opening minutes with a 12-0 start en route to a commanding 26-15 first-quarter lead. The Liberty never relinquished momentum.
Sabrina Ionescu carried the offense masterfully, finishing with 23 points and seven assists. In comparison, three-time WNBA champion Stewart contributed an all-around statline of 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots.
Chicago’s Angel Reese led her team with 17 points and 11 rebounds. However, the Sky struggled to sustain runs against a Liberty squad that showcased depth and defensive intensity. Reese’s latest double-double added her to the elite WNBA list as the fastest player to record 30 double-doubles in just 42 career games, eclipsing Tina Charles’ 47.
By halftime, New York held a decisive lead of 52-32. Although Chicago chipped away at times, the 20-point deficit proved insurmountable.
9 STRAIGHT WINS FOR YOUR @nyliberty! 🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽 pic.twitter.com/92nBTChlqv
— Liberty Lead (@LibertyLeadSM) June 11, 2025
The Liberty are preparing for its next game with the confidence of a team chasing continued perfection. They will battle Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever on June 14 in Gainbridge before hosting the Atlanta Dream on June 17 and the Phoenix Mercury on June 19 at Barclays.