FLSHING MEADOWS, NY — Shameka Christon battled the glare from the beating sun before laying up a practice shot. The Liberty forward also took inventory of the wind before releasing the ball. Natural elements are not usually pertinent for a professional basketball player. But for Christon and the rest of the Liberty and Indiana Fever players, last night’s contest was anything but usual.

For two weeks every year, Arthur Ashe Stadium commands the international spotlight as home for the U.S. Open, tennis’ final Grand Slam event of the year. Yet on a humid July night, the venue hosted a sport that racks up more points and deuces than a tennis match and doesn’t request silence during the action.

“It’s obviously a different atmosphere and not something that we’re used to,” Christon said. “It’s exciting. People can copy this, but we’re the first and original and we can say we actually did it. We were the first ones to do it and no one can take that away from us.”

The Liberty hosted Indiana in the inaugural Outdoor Classic, serving as the first regular season outdoor game in WNBA history. An near sell-out crowd of 19,393 came to witness the novelty at the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center, where the Liberty’s home court was transported from Madison Square Garden to Flushing Meadows. Christon said the objectives remain the same even in the new surroundings.

“We’re professionals and as long as we have a court and a goal to shoot [at],” she said. “We have to go out there and try to do what we do best.”

Outside of the hardwood being placed on top of one of the most famous tennis courts in the world, the settings looked the same as if it was still placed under the famed spokes of the Garden ceiling. The shot clock and timer were on top of the backboard with customary scorer’s table and bench chairs along a parallel line.

Christon said the last time she remembered playing competitively outside was during her teenage years growing up in Arkansas. The Liberty leading scorer said playing in a historic setting brought her back to her roots, where pickup games and the playground were the only places available to practice.

“I think all of us weren’t blessed to have a gym to go to everyday like we do now,” said Christon before the game. “So just going back and playing where we started is exciting.”

Playing in unique venues is not something unique for the Liberty franchise. The 2004 Republican Convention took over the Garden, allowing the Libs to call Radio City Music Hall its temporary home. Christon and Erin Thorn are the only two holdovers from that unit.

“It was exciting to play in Radio City, but I don’t think anything compares to this,” she said.

Last night’s game, televised nationally on ESPN, can also led to increased exposure for the league. WNBA President Donna Orender said she was hoping the heavily promoted contest would lead to greater interest in the sport.

"It continues to underscore the growing enthusiasm fans have for the game ... There's a little bit of poetry surrounding all of this," she said.

Added Christon: “A lot of times I hear the women’s game isn’t as exciting, so I think everyone’s going to see two good teams and they are going to like what they see. And they’re going to come back and watch more games.”

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