Fansided

This 12-year-old WNBA fan’s reaction won the internet

By Ian Levy

WHITE PLAINS, NY - JULY 3: Young fans look on during the game between the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty on July 3, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WHITE PLAINS, NY - JULY 3: Young fans look on during the game between the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty on July 3, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Video of a 12-year old WNBA fan reacting to getting tickets for her birthday is capturing the hearts of fans and players.

Do you remember your first professional sports game in person? It’s a magical experience, crossing a boundary into a world that doesn’t seem real into you see it, watching incredible athletes who have previously only existed as moving images on a screen.

It’s the kind of thing that can change a kid’s life, bonding them with their favorite team forever or inspiring them to put in the work to get themselves onto that field or court someday. That’s one of the reasons this video took off a yesterday — a 12-year old WNBA fan in Maine reacting to a birthday gift from her parents, tickets to her first game ever.

The reaction is so strong and so genuine, it’s hard not have those emotions wash over you as your watching. This girl, presumably a Connecticut Sun fan because of New England proximity, is completely overcome. The positive reactions that rolled in all day on Twitter just added to the fun, with some of the best coming from basketball teams offering to treat this young fan to other games:

https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury/status/1017453911685226501

And WNBA players offering their help to make this first experience an absolutely incredible one:

The first tweet is from Chiney Ogwumike who leads the Sun in scoring this year, while simultaneously working as an analyst for ESPN. Stewart, the third-year phenom, leads the Storm in scoring, rebounding and steals this year. Two stars offering to visit with an individual fan after a game is an incredible gesture.

Next: The WNBA’s top 20 players, ranked

The WNBA is always working to increase its fanbase but conversations about the league being under-covered shouldn’t distract from the fact that the league already has an large and passionate following.

Check out our Fandom 250 rankings to find out where fans of WNBA players and teams ranked last year, and where they’ll fall in our 2018 rankings.

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