The New York Liberty is a professional women’s basketball team, established in 1997, and competes among the 12 different teams in the WNBA. The Liberty has a rich history of playoff appearances, including multiple Finals runs. Despite several near-misses, the franchise has remained competitive over the years, building a passionate fan base in New York City.
In the last decade, the team has been revitalized by the emergence of young stars like Sabrina Ionescu and the addition of former MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. Their arrival has transformed the Liberty into a legitimate championship contender. With a powerful lineup and a strong organizational structure, the Liberty continue to be a major force in the WNBA.
How many championships have the New York Liberty won?
The New York Liberty has won one WNBA championship. The New York Liberty won the 2024 WNBA championship. Before 2024, the Liberty had reached the WNBA finals five times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2023), but they couldn't win it. However, it was the sixth time the charm as the New York Liberty claimed the WNBA championship in 2024.
New York Liberty Finals Appearance History
The New York Liberty have had a good run in the WNBA finals, having played six times. They first played in the finals in 1997, against the Houston Comets but lost the match. They got back to the finals in 1999 and 2000 but were defeated by the Comets. The Liberty reached the finals again in 2002 but lost to the Los Angeles Sparks. It took the Liberty several years to return to the Finals again in 2023 but they were swept by the Las Vegas Aces. They reached the finals again in 2024 where they finally won their first title. Below mentioned are some information about the New York Liberty’s WNBA Finals appearance throughout the years:
| Team Name | Head Coach | Against | Final Date and Year | Venue | Wins/Losses by Game in Series |
| New York Liberty | Nancy Darsch | Houston Comets | August 30, 1997 | Compaq Center, Houston | 0-1 (Loss) |
| New York Liberty | Richie Adubato | Houston Comets | September 5, 1999 | Compaq Center, Houston | 1-2 (Loss) |
| New York Liberty | Richie Adubato | Houston Comets | August 26, 2000 | Compaq Center, Houston | 0-2 (Loss) |
| New York Liberty | Richie Adubato | Los Angeles Sparks | August 29, 2002 | Staples Center, LA | 0-2 (Loss) |
| New York Liberty | Sandy Brondello | Las Vegas Aces | October 8, 2023 | Michelob ULTRA Arena, LV | 1-3 (Loss) |
| New York Liberty | Sandy Brondello | Minnesota Lynx | October 20, 2024 | Michelob ULTRA Arena, LV | 3-2 (Win) |
What teams did the New York Liberty lose the Championship Finals against?
The New York Liberty have faced tough competition in their six WNBA Finals appearances, losing five of them to three different teams:
Houston Comets (1997, 1999, 2000):
The first finals appearance of the Liberty was in 1997 when they lost to the Houston Comets which included Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes. The Comets went on to beat the Liberty in 1999 and 2000, proving their supremacy in the early seasons of the WNBA.
Los Angeles Sparks (2002):
In 2002, the Liberty played against the Los Angeles Sparks with Lisa Leslie as the team’s star player. The Sparks emerged as the winner of the series, thus making it two in a row for them. The Liberty faced a lot of difficulties in trying to penetrate the Sparks’ defense and Leslie in particular.
Las Vegas Aces (2023):
The last Finals appearance for the Liberty was in 2023 against the Las Vegas Aces. Despite the team’s best effort, the Liberty lost to the Aces, with A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum leading the team. The Aces’ depth and resilience were too much for the Liberty to overcome
New York Liberty's Last Finals Appearance
The New York Liberty’s most recent Finals appearance was in 2024 when they won their first WNBA championship. They faced the Minnesota Lynx in a highly competitive five-game series.
In Game 1, New York Liberty initially dominated. However, despite the Lynx trailing by as many as eighteen points, they mounted a comeback, forcing overtime after Courtney Williams hit a four-point play with just 5.5 seconds left. The Lynx ultimately stole a thrilling 95–93 victory in overtime. Game 2 saw the NY Liberty rebound strongly, showcasing their depth with four players scoring in double figures, including Breanna Stewart, who recorded seven steals—a Finals record. The Liberty won convincingly 80–66, evening the series at one game each.
The action moved to Minnesota for Game 3, where another intense game ensued but Liberty edged the Lynx 80–77, taking a 2-1 series lead. This game featured a clutch three-point dagger by Sabrina Ionescue with 1 second left in the game. In Game 4, the Lynx, facing elimination, played tenacious defense, managing to hold the Liberty Stars to a combined 10–36 shooting. They won 82–80, forcing a decisive Game 5.
Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA finals series returned to New York, where the Liberty rallied from a slow start. Despite a challenging performance from their stars, they triumphed 66–61 in overtime, clinching their first WNBA title. Jonquel Jones was named Finals MVP, leading her team with pivotal two-way consistent contributions. This championship not only marked a historic win for the Liberty franchise but also ended a long championship drought for New York's professional basketball teams since the Nets' ABA title in 1976.
FAQs on New York Liberty Final Appearances
A. The New York Liberty played in appeared in 6 WNBA finals series, in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2023, and 2024.
A. The New York Liberty have won the WNBA Finals only once since their inception in 1997. They won the WNBA championship in 2024.
A. The New York Liberty won the WNBA championship in 2024.
A. The New York Liberty was founded in 1997.
A. The New York Liberty appeared in 28 seasons in the WNBA, of which they have made 19 playoff appearances.
