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New York Liberty

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Article Genealogy
Parent: WNBA Hop 4
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New York Liberty
NameNew York Liberty
Founded1997
HistoryNew York Liberty 1997–present
ArenaBarclays Center
LocationBrooklyn, New York City, New York
ColorsBlack, copper, light gray
OwnerJoe Tsai
General managerJonathan Kolb
CoachSandy Brondello
LeagueWNBA
ConferenceEastern Conference
Conf titles4 (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002)
Retired numbers1 (#11)

New York Liberty. The New York Liberty are a professional basketball franchise based in Brooklyn, competing as a charter member of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Owned by Joe Tsai, the team has been a cornerstone of the league since its inaugural 1997 season, reaching the WNBA Finals four times in its early history. After many years playing at Madison Square Garden and later Westchester County Center, the Liberty moved to their permanent home at the Barclays Center in 2020, ushering in a new era for the franchise.

History

The Liberty were one of the eight original teams announced for the WNBA's launch in 1997, with initial ownership led by Cablevision and playing their home games at Madison Square Garden. Led by foundational players like Teresa Weatherspoon and Rebecca Lobo, the team quickly found success, appearing in the first three WNBA Finals (1997, 1999, 2000) and a fourth in 2002, though falling each time to the Houston Comets and later the Los Angeles Sparks. The franchise was purchased by James L. Dolan and The Madison Square Garden Company in 1999. A prolonged playoff drought ensued in the late 2000s before a resurgence led by stars like Tina Charles and Cappie Pondexter. In 2019, a new ownership group led by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai acquired the team, relocating it to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2020 season and initiating a significant rebuild.

Home arenas

The team's primary home for its first 17 seasons was the historic Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. From 2011 to 2013, during renovations at the Garden, the Liberty played select home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. For the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the team moved its full home schedule to the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York, a much smaller venue. The franchise's current and permanent home is the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a move finalized under the ownership of Joe Tsai that aligned the team with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.

Players and personnel

Historically, the roster has featured iconic figures such as point guard Teresa Weatherspoon, center Tina Charles, and sharp-shooter Becky Hammon. The current era is built around a core of elite talent including 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones, All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu, and veteran forward Breanna Stewart. The basketball operations are led by General Manager Jonathan Kolb and Head Coach Sandy Brondello, who was hired prior to the 2022 season after a successful tenure with the Phoenix Mercury. The ownership group, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, have invested heavily in player experience and franchise infrastructure.

Season-by-season records

The Liberty have experienced distinct eras of success and struggle throughout their WNBA history. Their early dominance is reflected in records from 1997 to 2002, which included four Finals appearances. The team endured a challenging period from 2003 to 2014, missing the WNBA playoffs entirely for seven consecutive seasons. A return to competitiveness occurred in the mid-2010s, including a trip to the WNBA Conference Finals in 2015. After the move to Barclays Center, the team underwent a rebuild, culminating in a franchise-record 32-win season and a return to the WNBA Finals in 2023, where they were defeated by the Las Vegas Aces.

Rivalries

The Liberty's most historic and intense rivalry is with the Connecticut Sun, stemming from numerous playoff clashes in the Eastern Conference, including meetings in the 2022 and 2023 WNBA semifinals. A significant geographic and cultural rivalry exists with the Washington Mystics, often battling for conference supremacy. The modern era has also fostered a high-profile rivalry with the Las Vegas Aces, fueled by competitive regular season games and their meeting in the 2023 WNBA Finals. Earlier in franchise history, memorable playoff battles with the Los Angeles Sparks and the Houston Comets also defined intense competitive relationships.

Media coverage

Television coverage has historically been provided by the team's former ownership's networks, including MSG Network and later YES Network. Current local television rights are held by YES Network, which broadcasts a majority of games. National television exposure comes through the WNBA's league-wide agreements with ESPN networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2) and Amazon Prime Video. Radio broadcasts have aired on WFAN and other local stations. The team also maintains a strong digital and social media presence, with games available for streaming via the WNBA League Pass subscription service.

Category:WNBA teams Category:Sports in New York City Category:Basketball teams in New York (state) Category:Women's basketball teams in the United States