Liberty to have float in New York pride parade

Shavonte Zellous is thrilled that the New York Liberty will have a float in Sunday’s pride parade, the first for a sports franchise in the city.

“I’m excited. I haven’t been in a pride parade before, so I think I’m more excited than most,” said Zellous, a guard who wore rainbow-colored shoes Friday night for the Liberty’s pride game. “Especially with the stuff that happened in Orlando last year. I want to thank the W (WNBA) and the Liberty for doing a thing like this. I think it will be a great turn out.”

New York players, coaches and front-office staff will be on the float rolling down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, ending in the West Village.

“I think everybody is jumping on board and open to the mentality of it’s your life, that’s what you want to do, I’m going to support you,” Zellous said. “I’m going be happy for you regardless.”’

Liberty President Isiah Thomas has always wanted the team to be trailblazers, and having a float in the parade was important to him.

“We like to lead and our motto is ‘Show up,”’ he said. “We’ve been the first in a lot of the social justice and equality areas and standing up and speaking out, and we invite all the other leagues and sports teams to participate and follow.”

The WNBA has been at the forefront of pride activities over the last four years, with all of the teams getting involved. Many players have marched at pride parades before, but no teams have had a float, according to the league.

“It’s going to be a great day,” said Thomas, who will try to make it back for the parade after being out of town attending the memorial service for his former GM with the Pistons. “Wish we all could be there. It’s one of the biggest and funnest events in New York.”

Thomas was surprised that the Liberty hadn’t had a float before, but in the past the team usually had a game on the day of the parade, which made it difficult.

The NBA and WNBA had a float in the parade last year with Commissioner Adam Silver and President Lisa Borders both attending. The two leagues will do so again.