On Thursday, May 21, 2026, the AABANY Membership Committee hosted an incredible evening of community, culture, and basketball for AAPI Heritage Night at Barclays Center. Members, family, and friends gathered in Brooklyn to cheer on the home team as the New York Liberty took on the Golden State Valkyries, making it a memorable celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
While the Liberty ultimately fell to the Valkyries with a final score of 87-70, the energy inside the arena remained electric. It was the perfect, high-spirited alternative for local sports fans looking for a fantastic live experience right here in Brooklyn, especially on a heavy New York sports night that was competing directly for the city’s attention with Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals (Knicks vs. Cavs) over at Madison Square Garden.
The crowd at Barclays was treated to spectacular cultural showcases and high-profile guests throughout the evening:
Halftime Performance by Aum Dance Creations: The crowd was treated to a mesmerizing halftime show by Aum Dance Creations. Founded by Director Rina Shah, this New Jersey-based academy is dedicated to preserving traditional Indian classical dances like Kathak and Bharat Natyam, while blending them with the high-energy rhythms of modern Bollywood, contemporary, and hip-hop styles. Their dynamic fusion performance captured the stadium’s attention on the big screen, bringing a vibrant and culturally rich showcase to center court.
Special Guest Suni Lee: Adding to the excitement, Olympic gymnast and two-time gold medalist Suni Lee was in attendance. When she was featured on the Jumbotron, the arena erupted in cheers, highlighting the incredible achievements of AAPI athletes on the global stage.
Beyond the action on the court, the night served as a wonderful opportunity for AABANY members to connect, support the community, and show their local pride. A portion of the proceeds from the group’s ticket sales went directly toward supporting AABANY’s ongoing mission of advocacy and community service.
Thank you to everyone who came out to make the night such fun!
–Written by Francis Chin, AABANY’s Membership Director
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month this year, AABANY is presenting or co-sponsoring several events this month. We hope to see you all there! Follow the links for more details, and please note the registration deadlines. This blog post will be updated throughout the month, as new events get added on, so check back for any updates.
May 2, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium
1:35pm – Yankees Stadium, 1 E. 161 E. 161st Street
This event has already occurred.
May 3, 2026
AABANY Sunday Run Day
11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St. This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.
This event has already occurred.
May 5-7, 2026
Asian Comedy Fest 2026: AABANY Discount Available
7pm and 9pm – Sugar Mouse NYC, 47 3rd Avenue, Lower Level, New York, NY 10003
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together
1:00 pm – Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Courtroom 2.95, 320 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Beginner’s Mahjong
6:00pm – Sparrow’s Nest Studio, 35 W. 35th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Judge Pamela K. Chen
6:00pm -Midtown location – to be emailed to registrants.
This event has already occurred.
May 9, 2026
AABANY Bi-Monthly Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11232
This event has already occurred.
May 10, 2026
AABANY Sunday Run Day
11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St. This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.
This event has already occurred.
May 12, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Reflections of Unity and Strength in our AANHPI Communities
12:30pm – Queens Supreme Court – Civil Term, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Ceremonial Courtroom 25, Jamaica, New York 11435
This event has already occurred.
May 16, 2026
AABANY Presents: 3rd Annual Wellness Retreat
10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Blue Cliff Monastery, 3 Mindfulness Rd, Pine Bush, New York 12566
This event has already occurred.
May 16, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Asian Americans and the Law, Featuring Hon. Denny Chin
2pm – White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601
On July 16, 2024, through a collaboration between AABANY, the LGBT Bar NY (LeGal), the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association of New York, we had over 40 collective members and friends who signed up to watch the NY Liberty vs. CT Sun game at the Barclays Center. The crowd was ecstatic and vibrant! We congratulate our home team for winning the game (82-74) and wish them great success at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. We were fortunate to see them in action, since they won’t be playing another organized WNBA matchup until Aug. 15.
We hope to convene at another joint collaborative bar association event to support minority bar associations and their causes, such as hosting pro bono legal clinics, awarding scholarships, and providing mentorship and training programs to attorneys and judges.
If you would like to learn more about the participating bar associations, please visit them at:
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, AABANY members attended AAPI Heritage Night at the Barclays Center to watch the Brooklyn Nets take on the Detroit Pistons. During this inaugural event by the Nets to celebrate AAPI cultural heritage, female South Asian acapella group New York Masti performed the national anthem, Chinese-American rapper Bohan Phoenix performed during halftime, and AAPI pioneers were honored during the game. As for the game itself, fans enjoyed an exciting game where the Nets overcame an early deficit to win by a final score of 130-123 with Kevin Durant leading the way with 41 points. Thank you to those who came out and stay tuned for future AABANY Membership Committee events!
