Former “The Bachelor” contestant Lexi Young hosted a pregame dating event at a Brooklyn Nets game on Friday, April 4, 2026, bringing dozens of NYC singles to Barclays Center to meet in person.
The event was part of her “In the Wild” series, which focuses on helping people connect off dating apps and in real-life settings.
According to the New York Post, the event drew singles looking for a more natural way to meet, combining a social mixer with a live NBA game.
Young launched the concept in 2024 after going back on dating apps herself and quickly realizing it was not working. What began as a small idea has now grown into events across cities like Atlanta, New York, and Nashville.
Lexi Young Expands “In the Wild” After “The Bachelor”
Young said the idea came from frustration with online dating. “This can’t be the only way to meet someone,” she told the New York Post.
GettyShe first tested it in Atlanta by inviting singles to meet in person and the turnout caught her off guard. “I thought no one was going to come, and we ended up having over 1,000 people show up, the line was wrapped around the block,” Young said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I think there’s something here.’”
Since then, the events have picked up fast. Young said tying them to sports games has helped bring in more people. “When we do sporting events, it definitely brings out more men,” she said.
Young said the “In the Wild” setup is simple—people show up, talk, play icebreaker games, and see what happens. Some fill out surveys ahead of time to be matched with others.
Brooklyn Nets Dating Event Turns Into Real-Life Connection
The New York event started with a mixer inside Barclays Center before the game. People stood around talking, some came with friends, others came alone. It felt like any other singles event at first.
Some said they had been to events like this before and did not have much luck. Zoe Maher, 26, said she decided to try again anyway. “With a free drink added in, it just seemed like it would be a good night,” she told the New York Post.
Moreover, as the night went on, things started to shift, one attendee ended up talking with Ethan Hutchins, a 32-year-old Nets fan. The two stayed together through the game and even showed up on the arena’s kiss cam.
The Nets lost 141-107, but that was not really the point for everyone there.
Young said the idea is to meet people where they already are. “We’re really trying to bring singles together who are already going to these massive sporting events and find a way for them to connect and then follow up,” she said. “We’re going to give them an avenue to do that.”
According to the New York Post’s report, the pair met again the next day, turning a casual night at a game into something more.
