Taylor Swift was seated courtside at Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals alongside Alana Haim, Este Haim, and Mariska Hargitay at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026.
Here is everything you need to know about the people around her.
Who Was Sitting With Taylor Swift at the Knicks Game?
Swift’s courtside group consisted of HAIM sisters Alana and Este, and actress Mariska Hargitay, who was seated directly next to her.
| Person | Known For |
| Alana Haim | Singer-actress, HAIM, Licorice Pizza |
| Este Haim | Singer, HAIM, eldest sister |
| Mariska Hargitay | Law & Order: SVU, lifelong Knicks fan |
Travis Kelce, Swift’s fiancé, was not present.
Who is Mariska Hargitay?
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, born on January 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California. She is the daughter of Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield and Hungarian-American bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay.
She is best known for playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role she has held since the show premiered in 1999, making it one of the longest-running performances by a single actor in television history. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006 for that role.
Beyond acting, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004, a nonprofit focused on supporting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Her connection to Taylor Swift is personal and well-documented. Swift named one of her cats Olivia Benson after Hargitay’s character years before the two became genuine friends. That admiration eventually grew into a real friendship, and the two have appeared together publicly on multiple occasions.
Hargitay is also a fixture at Knicks games and has a close personal friendship with Knicks star Jalen Brunson. After a pivotal Game 5 win, Brunson beelined to hug her on the court. She is one of the most recognizable regulars in the MSG courtside seats throughout this postseason.
Who are the HAIM Sisters?
HAIM is an American pop-rock band made up of three sisters from Los Angeles: Este Haim, Danielle Haim, and Alana Haim.
Este Haim is the eldest, born on August 14, 1986. She plays bass and is known for her animated, expressive stage presence. She studied at UCLA before committing fully to music.
Alana Haim is the youngest, born on December 15, 1993. Beyond music, she has built a parallel acting career. Her lead performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza (2021) earned widespread critical praise and launched her as a serious actress alongside her music work.
Danielle Haim, the middle sister, was not photographed at the game.
The band released their debut album Days Are Gone in 2013, followed by Something to Tell You (2017) and Women in Music Pt. III (2020), which received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
The Taylor Swift and HAIM friendship goes back years. Swift was featured on the HAIM track “Gasoline” from Women in Music Pt. III and has appeared in their music videos. The friendship is one of the most visible in Swift’s inner circle, with the sisters regularly appearing at her shows, events, and now, NBA Finals games.
At Game 4, Este wore a shirt reading “Knickole Kidman” and Alana’s read “Knickleback,” both Knicks-themed puns on celebrity names.
Why Wasn’t Travis Kelce at the Knicks Game?
Travis Kelce did not appear to be in attendance for Game 4 of the NBA Finals. No official reason was given for his absence.
Kelce had attended an earlier playoff game with Swift. The two sat courtside together at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, where the Knicks beat the Cavaliers 121-108.
Game 4 was a girls’ night. Swift came with the HAIM sisters and Hargitay instead.
Which Other Celebrities Were Nearby?
The game drew Timothée Chalamet, Adam Sandler, Spike Lee, Jerry Seinfeld, and Chris Rock, among many others courtside at Madison Square Garden.
- Timothée Chalamet – actor, vocal Knicks fan
- Adam Sandler – attended with his wife Jackie
- Spike Lee – one of the most iconic Knicks courtside fixtures
- Ben Stiller – seated near Swift’s group
- Jerry Seinfeld – longtime New York institution at MSG
- Chris Rock – comedian and lifelong Knicks supporter
Swift’s group sat near Ben Stiller. Kylie Jenner was also spotted courtside alongside Timothée Chalamet.
FAQs
Who was sitting with Taylor Swift at the Knicks game? Alana Haim, Este Haim, and Mariska Hargitay. They were seated courtside at Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026.
Who is Taylor Swift with at the game today? At Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Taylor Swift attended with the HAIM sisters and actress Mariska Hargitay. Travis Kelce was not in attendance.
Why wasn’t Travis Kelce at the Knicks game with Taylor Swift? No official reason was given. Swift attended Game 4 with the HAIM sisters and Mariska Hargitay instead.
Who are the HAIM sisters? Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim are a Los Angeles-based pop-rock trio and longtime friends of Taylor Swift. Alana and Este attended Game 4. Danielle was not present.
