WNBA Stages First Outdoor Game

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- History was made Saturday, when the Indiana Fever posted a 71-55 victory over the New York Liberty in a WNBA game that was played at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the home of the United States Tennis Open. The contest, called the Liberty Outdoor Classic, was the first regular-season outdoor game in pro basketball history. It also was the first non-tennis sporting event to take place at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

Following the WNBA's lead, the NBA will conduct its own outdoor game in October, when the Suns play the Denver Nuggets in a preseason contest in Indian Wells, California. Basketball's foray into outdoor competition came after the NHL staged a regular-season game on New Year's Day between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.