The New York Liberty are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Liberty compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 1997 and is one of the eight original franchises of the league. The team is owned by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, the majority owners of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. The team plays its home games at Barclays Center.
Franchise History
Early Success (1997–2002)
The Liberty were one of the first teams to sign a player when they acquired college superstar Rebecca Lobo from UConn. Point guard Teresa Weatherspoon emerged as a star, and the Liberty made the WNBA Finals in 1997, losing to the Houston Comets. They returned to the Finals in 1999 (losing to Houston), 2000 (losing to Houston), and 2002 (losing to the Los Angeles Sparks). In Game 2 of the 1999 Finals, Weatherspoon made a legendary halfcourt buzzer-beater to win the game.
Transition Seasons (2003–2009)
With Weatherspoon's career winding down, Becky Hammon emerged as a star. In 2004, the Liberty played six home games at Radio City Music Hall as Madison Square Garden hosted the Republican National Convention. The Liberty made the playoffs in several of these seasons but did not return to the Finals.
The Cappie Pondexter Era (2010–2014)
Led by newly signed high scorer Cappie Pondexter and 2010 Most Improved Player Leilani Mitchell, the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010, where they lost to the Atlanta Dream. In 2011–2013, the Liberty played home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, while Madison Square Garden underwent renovations.
The Isiah Thomas Era (2015–2018)
In May 2015, Thomas was hired as team president. Under his leadership and head coach Bill Laimbeer, the Liberty finished first in the Eastern Conference in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In November 2017, Madison Square Garden Company announced it was seeking to sell the franchise. The Liberty moved most of their 2018 home games to the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York.
The Tsai Era and 2024 Championship (2019–present)
On January 23, 2019, the Liberty were sold to Joe Tsai, co-founder of Alibaba Group, and Clara Wu Tsai. Isiah Thomas was relieved of his duties in February 2019. The team relocated to Barclays Center in Brooklyn full-time in 2020. That year, the Liberty selected Sabrina Ionescu with the first overall pick in the WNBA draft.
In 2023, the Liberty made major transactions to become immediate contenders, acquiring 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones and signing Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot in free agency. The team won a franchise-record 32 games and the Commissioner's Cup championship, but lost the WNBA Finals to the Las Vegas Aces in four games.
In 2024, the Liberty again won 32 games and secured the top seed in the playoffs. They defeated the Atlanta Dream, Las Vegas Aces, and Minnesota Lynx to win their first WNBA championship in franchise history. Jonquel Jones was named WNBA Finals MVP.
Championships and Achievements
- WNBA Championships: 1 (2024)
- Conference Titles: 3 (1999, 2000, 2002)
- Commissioner's Cup Titles: 1 (2023)
- Playoff Appearances: 20 (in 30 seasons)
Home Arenas
- Madison Square Garden (1997–2010, 2014–2017)
- Radio City Music Hall (six games in 2004)
- Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (2011–2013)
- Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY (2018–2019)
- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY (2020–present)
Notable Players
The franchise has been home to numerous well-known players including Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo, Becky Hammon, Cappie Pondexter, Tina Charles, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot.
Ownership and Management
- Owners: Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai (since 2019)
- General Manager: Jonathan Kolb (since 2019)
- CEO: Keia Clarke
Team Colors and Branding
The team's colors are seafoam green, black, and white. The logo features a simplified version of the Statue of Liberty branding. The mascot is Ellie the Elephant, introduced on May 6, 2021.
