It鈥檚 been about three weeks since the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship title in 53 years, and Olivia White 鈥�16 is just now nearly recovered from the euphoric chaos that has been her daily life for months.
In September, one month before the Knicks tipped off their 2025-26 season, White was promoted to manager of event presentation at Madison Square Garden. From hosting New York鈥檚 first NBA Finals game in 26 years to the Knicks鈥� unbelievable 29-point comeback in Game 4 to the celebratory ticker-tape parade on Manhattan鈥檚 streets that drew an estimated 2 million fans, the UCF aerospace engineering alum had a front-row view and played a supporting role to the team鈥檚 success this year.
鈥淢adison Square Garden and the Knicks organizations have brought so many people across the world together, and getting to be a part of that kind of impact will really change your perspective forever in the best way possible,鈥� White says.
White, a former Burnett Honors Scholar and UCF dance team member, finally had a moment to breathe to share about her experience.
You serve as manager of event presentation. What does a day on the job look like?
Event presentation is everything that happens on the court during a game that is not the actual basketball game. This includes our in-game entertainment such as our Knicks City Dancers and 7th Ave Hype Squad as well as our halftime performances, in-game fan contests, T-shirt tosses, and other elements like on-court presentations and recognitions.
I was first hired as a coordinator in 2021, and over my time with the team, I have taken on more responsibilities. I now fully manage all 40 members of our 7th Ave Squad in addition to serving as the floor director for all in-game elements during Knicks games.
You earned your degree in aerospace engineering. How did you end up in sports business?
This is a bit of a wild pivot. I grew up dancing my entire life and was a member of the UCF dance team. I loved having the ability to keep dancing while earning my degree. When I graduated college and got a full-time role in the defense industry and later the tech industry, I found a way to keep dancing with the Orlando Magic dance team. I had so many positive experiences during my three seasons working for the Magic and got to travel with the team numerous times to participate in NBA global events. I worked my 9-5 during the day and then headed to the arena at night for rehearsals and games and found myself enjoying my role in the professional sports industry more than my full-time job.
I chose to go back to school to pursue a degree in sports business so that I could properly transition into the industry. I pursued a degree in global sport business from New York University while continuing to work full-time in Orlando and was fortunate to travel to New York City and Tokyo for educational residencies.
In 2020 I landed a remote internship with Madison Square Garden and was able to meet so many passionate members of the MSG sports team. I maintained the professional connections I had created during my time in the program. About five months after my time as an MSG student associate ended, I applied for my dream role with the Knicks event presentation team, and the rest is history.
How did your experience at UCF play into your success today?
鈥淢y time at UCF as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation.鈥� 鈥� Olivia White 鈥�16
My time at UCF as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation. I got to dance at every UCF football and basketball game, perform at the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, compete in Universal Dance Association Nationals every January, and perform at numerous events in the community, including Orlando Magic halftimes. Getting to take part in all of these incredible experiences at such a young age, while also having to balance school and part-time jobs prepared me to thrive under pressure and become comfortable in chaotic environments.
This season is one for the record books. What are some of your most memorable moments?
This season was my favorite season yet. There were so many moments that will stick with me forever. The historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 is something I鈥檒l never forget. If this postseason run taught me anything, it鈥檚 to never count the Knicks out 鈥� and this belief never failed me.
A few of my other favorites include getting to celebrate on stage at Radio City Music Hall when the Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years and getting to hold the NBA Cup back in December when the Knicks brought home their first hardware of their historic season.
When you do eventually look back on this season, what do you think are going to be your biggest takeaways from the experience?
My biggest takeaway from this entire season is definitely just pure gratitude. It鈥檚 not lost on me how lucky I was to have a front row seat to one of the most historic runs in professional sports, especially with one of the most iconic franchises of all time. And to get to be a part of something so meaningful in a city like New York at a venue like Madison Square Garden, is literally a dream that I will forever be thankful for.
What is the hardest decision you had to make that has led you to where you are today?
Packing up my life in Orlando and moving to New York to pursue a whole new career. I have always been a risk-adverse individual, so giving up the familiarity and comfort of my hometown for place as big as New York City was a huge decision for both me and my then boyfriend, now husband, Logan Cloak 鈥�17. As hard of a decision as it was, I would make it 100 times over and am so thankful every single day that I took that leap out of my comfort zone.
