In the quiet town of Mechanicville, New York, the sun had barely crept over the horizon when 86-year-old Kitty Ford began her morning ritual. As the old coffee maker hummed in the kitchen, Kitty adjusted her glasses and reached for a well-worn notebook from her late husband’s desk. The cover, adorned with a photo of the Golden State Warriors hoisting the 2022 NBA Championship Trophy, always made her smile—especially because at the center stood her favorite player: Stephen Curry.
Kitty’s hands, marked by years of hard work, trembled slightly as she opened the notebook to a page marked with a golden paperclip. This was no ordinary notebook; it was a chronicle of Curry’s career. Every game, every point, every assist and three-pointer was meticulously recorded, alongside her own observations: “incredible movement in the third quarter,” or “needed to pass the ball on that play.” Kitty had never cared much for basketball until a chance Warriors game in 2014. Something about Curry’s joyful, intelligent style of play reminded her of her sons, who’d been high school athletes. When they grew older and moved on, she lost her connection to sports—until Steph Curry reignited that spark.
“He plays with joy,” she’d tell anyone who asked. “It’s not about being the biggest or the strongest. It’s about intelligence, hard work, and believing in something greater than yourself.” Her granddaughter Maddie, at first amused by her grandmother’s devotion, soon realized it was something deeper—a connection to family, to hope, to believing in dreams.
One morning, as Kitty recounted Curry’s latest game, Maddie filmed her grandmother showing off the notebook, its pages organized by seasons and highlighted with gold stickers. “That boy has nerves of steel,” Kitty laughed, pointing out a section dedicated to Curry’s clutch shots. Maddie, inspired, posted the video to TikTok with the caption: “My 86-year-old grandmother is the biggest Steph Curry fan you’ve ever seen.”
What happened next was beyond their wildest dreams. By morning, the video had gone viral. Comments poured in: “This lady is the definition of a loyal fan,” and “Someone please make sure Steph Curry sees this!” The Warriors’ social media team quickly took notice, and soon Kitty’s story was everywhere—from ESPN to basketball podcasts, even shared by NBA players themselves.
Then came the message that changed everything. The Golden State Warriors wanted to invite Kitty to see Steph Curry play live for the very first time, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Maddie could barely contain her excitement as she told her grandmother, “Yes, Grandma, it’s real. The team reached out after seeing the video. They want you to come to the game in March. And yes, you’ll meet Steph Curry in person.”
The days leading up to the game were filled with anticipation. Kitty, with a youthful energy she hadn’t felt in decades, reviewed her notebook, chose her outfit—a Warriors jersey with Curry’s number 30—and prepared questions for Steph. “What if he thinks I’m just a silly old woman?” she fretted. “He specifically asked for you to bring your notebook, Grandma. He’s genuinely interested in your support,” Maddie reassured her.
March 6th arrived at last. The family traveled from Mechanicville to Brooklyn, Kitty clutching her notebook like a treasure. At the Barclays Center, Warriors representatives greeted them and led them to prime seats near the court. As the players warmed up, Kitty cheered for every Curry shot, drawing smiles and curious glances from those around her. Then, Curry himself noticed her, smiled, and waved—a small gesture that made Kitty’s heart race.
The game was a dream come true. Curry played with a special energy, sinking impossible shots and, in the third quarter, making a half-court shot before turning to Kitty and performing his signature “night night” gesture. Tears streamed down her face. In 86 years, few moments had been as perfect as this.
After the game, the family was asked to stay seated. Twenty minutes later, Steph Curry appeared, still in his uniform, and walked directly to Kitty. He crouched to her level and took her trembling hand. “Mrs. Kitty, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” For a moment, Kitty was speechless, then finally managed, “You played wonderfully tonight. That half-court shot—I always knew it would go in.”
Curry laughed, genuinely touched. “I heard you have a special notebook. May I see it?” Kitty opened the notebook with reverent care, showing him the yellowed pages filled with her meticulous handwriting, statistics, and glued newspaper clippings. “This is incredible,” Curry murmured, flipping through the pages. “Every game?” “Every single one,” Kitty replied. “Even the ones where you didn’t play so well. Especially those.”
Curry stopped at a page with a quote that meant so much to Kitty: “I hope to inspire people around the world to simply be themselves, be humble, and be grateful for all the blessings in their lives.” Kitty explained, “In 86 years of life, I’ve learned that character is what really matters. It’s not the trophies or medals—it’s how you treat others, how you face adversity, how you stay humble even when the world is at your feet.”
She told Curry about her sons, about how she’d always taught them that an athlete’s value was in their heart. She showed him a card from her sons: “Thank you for teaching us to love God, each other, and Steph Curry.” Curry laughed, his eyes shining. “You probably don’t fully understand the impact you have on people’s lives,” Kitty continued. “You gave me something to look forward to on days when the world seemed too dark. You brought joy to my old age.”
Curry, usually eloquent, was silent for a moment. “Mrs. Kitty, people like you are the reason we play. Not the contracts, not the commercials. It’s knowing that what we do matters to someone.” Then he presented her with a special Warriors jersey—number 30, but with “Grandma Kitty” on the back, signed by Curry himself. “Thank you for being more than a fan. Thank you for being an inspiration.”
Before leaving, Curry hugged Kitty. “Thank you for reminding me why I love this game,” he whispered. “Thank you for making me believe in dreams, even at 86 years old,” she replied.
Back in Mechanicville, Kitty created a new section in her notebook: “The Day I Met Steph.” The signed “Grandma Kitty” jersey hung in a place of honor on her wall. And in Golden State, Curry kept a photo in his locker—himself with the elderly lady who’d reminded him of the true meaning of legacy. Two spirits, forever connected by the transformative power of sport, and the unwavering belief that we’re never too old to dream.
Who Is Grandma Kitty? Meet 86-Y/O Warriors Fan Known for Her Decades-Long Love for Stephen Curry
The age of the internet is truly remarkable! It has a way of bringing people together like nothing in the past. Case in point: Kitty Ford, aka Grandma Kitty, an 86-year-old Golden State Warriors superfan who got the surprise of her lifetime.
Recently, during the Dubs’ game against the Brooklyn Nets, Kitty finally met one of her favorites, Stephen Curry. The meeting was really wholesome, with Curry giving her a “Grandma Kitty” Warriors jersey. But in telling you all this, we may have left you with more questions than answers. So, let’s find out who this Warriors diehard really is.
Who is ‘Grandma Kitty,’ Warriors star Stephen Curry’s superfan?
Grandma Kitty, despite hailing from New York, has painstakingly followed all the games, updates, and news about the Dubs—something even some Bay Area fans might struggle to keep up with! She’s even got the NBA League Pass, just in case the Dubs aren’t playing on TV. So how did she manage to manifest a meeting with Steph Curry?
Well, Kitty has her granddaughter Maddie Franklin to thank for that! After feeling like the world should see her grandma’s ardent support for the Dubs, she posted a TikTok video of Kitty. In it, she showed off her notebook, complete with Steph Curry’s 2022 championship picture as its cover. The content within the notebook showed details of his games alongside day-to-day scribbles like her grocery lists. Even so, we’d call it a veritable Dubs artefact!
The video blew up instantly, and before she knew it, Grandma Kitty became an internet sensation. Then, it finally happened! After years of undying support for the Dubs, a few months following the viral TikTok, she finally met her hero. And we can assure you that it’s not a meeting she’ll ever forget. Not only did she have a moment of a lifetime, she also gained an unforgettable entry for her notebook!
This meeting was as memorable for Stephen Curry as it was for Kitty. Here’s what he said about meeting such a fan of his.
What did Stephen Curry say after his interaction with Grandma Kitty?
“It was special,” said Stephen Curry during the post-game interview about meeting Kitty. He’d just dropped 40 points for the Dubs, helping them with a 20-point comeback. But this is usual stuff for someone like him. What he didn’t expect was Kitty’s support during his warmups.
“I’ve never had somebody clap every time I made a shot in warmups. So that was cool. To have her on the baseline, it got my energy going. Thankfully, we got a win for her. She wants to show me her notebook that she brought to the game. So I can’t wait to see that. But that’s Dub nation at it’s finest right there,” said Curry about his unforgettable meeting with his biggest fan.
And we’re sure that no one claps for a player making warm-up shots, either. It’s only a superfan like Kitty who could do that. But what did Grandma Kitty do before she focused her complete energy on cheering for her favorite team? Let’s see.
What did Grandma Kitty do for a living?
Before becoming a full-time Golden State Warriors fan, Kitty was a school nurse. She worked at the local high school at first. But soon, she found her calling at St. Louise House, a home for aging, retired nuns in Albany, New York.
Her work left her with little time to do anything else, let alone watch TV. Even so, she’s supported the Golden State Warriors for the past decade. Just goes to show that where there’s a will, there’s a way!
At the end of the day, there are very few fans like Grandma Kitty left in the world. And no, this isn’t about her age; it’s about her dedication to the team she supports. After all, how many people do you know that own a notebook like hers?
