Pep rally at East Flatbush elementary school sets the stage for New York Liberty season opener

The New York Liberty basketball team and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield joined forces on Friday to mark the fourth year of their partnership with a pep rally at Walter Weaver Elementary School.

The event served as both a kickoff of the 2024 WNBA season and a celebration of the collaboration between the team, the health insurance provider and the East Flatbush school community.

At the pep rally, attendees were treated to a star-studded roster of participants, including Skeery Jones from iHeart Radio's Elvis Duran & the Morning Show, the beloved New York Liberty mascot Ellie and DJ Ty Michelle, who kept the energy high with spirited tunes.

Principal Ariana Butler-Bass of Walter Weaver Elementary School and Victor Bell III from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield were also on hand to underscore the importance of teamwork — both on the court and within the community.

This isn't the first time the New York Liberty and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have teamed up. The organizations have collaborated to establish a food pantry, distributing over 68,000 pounds of food and offering extensive nutrition education to the Walter Weaver school community.

"We're really excited about it," Bell III, director of NY sales and marketing at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, told Brooklyn Paper.

And as sponsors of the New York Liberty's "Women's Empowerment Platform," they've showcased the work of women business and community leaders in the Big Apple, granting them exposure and VIP experiences during games through the "Shine Loud Sunday" program.

Bell III thanked everyone at the pep rally, and shared excitement about New York Liberty's upcoming season.

"We definitely want to say to everyone here, thank you so much for all of your support of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, thank you for the relationships we have in the community, the WNBA, the New York Liberty, which we know we're gonna take the championship this year," he said.

Johnna Hayward, head of strategy and partnership marketing with the New York Liberty, agreed.

"It's gonna be a huge, exciting season for us, there's so much excitement and anticipation around this WNBA season and all that's going to come with it so I hope to see everyone at Barclays Center this summer," Hayward said.

The New York Liberty kick off their 2024 WNBA season on Tuesday, May 14 against the Washington Mystics. They'll then debut at the Barclays Center on Saturday, May 18, facing the Indiana Fever, marking an exciting moment for fans as they watch the team take to their new home court.

Additional reporting by Paul Frangipane