New York Liberty

The New York Liberty is a women’s basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York City, competing in the Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). As one of the league’s eight founding teams, the Liberty have yet to win a championship but have produced several legends, including Teresa Weatherspoon and Rebecca Lobo. Currently, they are strong contenders for the 2024 championship, featuring stars such as Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.

New York Liberty History

The New York Liberty, established in 1997, is one of the eight founding teams of the WNBA. When the league commenced in 1997, the Liberty signed college standout Rebecca Lobo from UConn, helping the team reach the championship game that year, where they were defeated by the Houston Comets. In 1999, they selected Crystal Robinson with the sixth overall pick and made another appearance in the WNBA Finals, but were once again defeated by the Comets. The Liberty made further finals appearances in 2000 and 2002, falling to the Comets and the Los Angeles Sparks, respectively.

Between 2003 and 2009, the team went through a rebuilding phase that did not meet expectations. However, in 2010, the Liberty reached the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the Atlanta Dream. Isiah Thomas was hired as team president, overseeing both business and basketball operations, and under his leadership and head coach Bill Laimbeer, the Liberty topped the Eastern Conference in the 2015 season. The team made the playoffs for three consecutive years but failed to qualify in 2018.

In the 2020 WNBA draft, the Liberty's first pick was Sabrina Ionescu, with Megan Walker and Jazmine Jones selected later in the round, marking a turning point for the team. By 2023, the Liberty made significant moves to become immediate contenders. They acquired 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones from the Connecticut Sun in a three-team trade, which also brought in Kayla Thornton from the Dallas Wings. Additionally, the Liberty signed star players Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot in free agency. That season, the Liberty set a franchise record with 32 wins and triumphed over the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner's Cup in-season competition.

New York Liberty Owner

The New York Liberty is owned by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai. Joe Tsai, a Taiwanese-Canadian billionaire, is a notable business leader who co-founded and serves as the chairman of Alibaba Group, a major Chinese multinational technology company. He also owns the Brooklyn Nets, an NBA team.

New York Liberty Jersey and Logo

The New York Liberty recently unveiled a fresh logo design, showcasing a streamlined interpretation of their iconic Statue of Liberty imagery. This updated logo incorporates black as one of its primary colours, aligning with the visual style of its NBA counterpart, the Brooklyn Nets.

New York Liberty Home Stadium

Barclays Center serves as the home stadium for the New York Liberty. This arena is also the venue for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. Besides basketball, Barclays Center hosts concerts, conventions, and a variety of other sporting and entertainment events.

Located within Pacific Park, a $4.9 billion business and residential complex, Barclays Center was designed by SHoP Architects, with Ellerbe Becket/AECOM acting as the project architect of record. The arena has a seating capacity of 17,732 for basketball games. In 2020, the Tsais moved the Liberty to Brooklyn permanently, having previously played at Madison Square Garden in New York.

New York Liberty Tickets and Broadcasting Details

On March 12, 2024, it was revealed that WNYW and WWOR would start airing New York Liberty games beginning with the 2024 season. Furthermore, on June 4, 2024, Liberty introduced "Liberty Live," a direct-to-consumer streaming service that will be the exclusive streaming platform for their games. In the past, Liberty games were broadcast on MSG Network and the YES Network. The commentary team for Liberty games includes Chris Shearn and Julianne Viani.

Additionally, several Liberty games are broadcast nationally on CBS, CBS Sports Network, Ion Television, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC.

New York Liberty Coaching Staff

Sandra Anne Brondello is the current head coach of the New York Liberty in the WNBA. The coaching staff includes Assistant Coaches Olaf Lange, Roneeka Hodges, and Zach O’Brien. Brian Lankton serves as the Player Development & Video Coordinator, while Epiphanny Prince is the Director of Player Relations & Community Engagement. Micaela Reese holds the position of Manager of Basketball Operations, and Ashley Garrison is the Equipment Manager. Ben Dull is the Player Personnel Coordinator, and Parker Lovett is the Basketball Operations Coordinator.

New York Liberty Famous Players

Breanna Stewart

Breanna Mackenzie Stewart, also known as "Stewie," is a professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. Born on August 27, 1994, in Baldwin, she stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and is well-regarded for her offensive skills. Stewart was the top pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft and won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award that same year.

She was named WNBA MVP in both 2018 and 2023 and has been selected as an All-Star in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Stewart led the Seattle Storm to championships in 2018 and 2020, earning the WNBA Finals MVP honours for both victories. In 2021, she was included in The W25, recognizing her as one of the top 25 players in the WNBA's first 25 years. Now with the New York Liberty, she plays a crucial role in the team's championship aspirations.

Sabrina Ionescu

Sabrina Elaine Ionescu shines as an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. Born on December 6, 1997, standing tall at 5 feet 11 inches, she is celebrated for her remarkable ability to achieve triple-doubles. During her college tenure, she etched her name in NCAA history as the all-time leader in career triple-doubles.

Selected as the top overall pick by the New York Liberty in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Ionescu's rookie season saw a significant milestone: she recorded her inaugural professional triple-double with an impressive stat line of 26 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. This achievement not only marked her as the youngest player in WNBA history to accomplish a triple-double but also cemented her place in Liberty history as the franchise's first player to achieve this feat, and only the tenth in the league's history overall.

As of the 2023-24 season, Ionescu continues to play a pivotal role in the Liberty's pursuit of a championship. Teaming up with stars like Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot, she maintains an impressive average of 18.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, embodying the team's hopes and aspirations on the court.

New York Liberty WNBA Records and Stats

As of June 2024, the Liberty have secured three conference championships and made five appearances in the WNBA Finals. They have also qualified for the playoffs in 18 out of their 28 seasons in the league.

New York Liberty Ring of Honor