SPORTS TEAM HISTORY

Sports Team HistorySports Logo History
  • Home
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History
    • Basketball History
    • College History
    • Football History
    • Hockey History
    • Soccer History
  • Greatest Player Polls
  • More…
    • STH News
    • Sports Team History Products
STH #3 Home Header 1440x650

New York Liberty Team History

STH WNBA Greatest Player Polls Banner
New York Liberty




  • 1997
  • 2010
  • 2015
  • New York Liberty 1997

    Liberty Team Creation

    The New York Liberty was selected as one of the eight charter members of the WNBA on Oct. 30, 1996. The Liberty remains one of four original franchises to continue to compete in the league and is the only team in WNBA history to operate under the same ownership since the league’s inaugural season.
    See Full Story
  • New York Liberty Cappie Pondexter

    Signing of Cappie Pondexter

    The New York Liberty fared better in 2010, during Donovan’s first and only full season as head coach. Led by newly signed high scorer Cappie Pondexter (formerly of the Phoenix Mercury) and the 2010 Most Improved Player Award winner Leilani Mitchell, the team made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Atlanta Dream.
    See Full Story
  • New York Liberty Isiah Thomas

    Liberty Hire Isiah Thomas

    On May 5, 2015, Liberty hired Thomas as Team President overseeing all business and basketball operations of the franchise. Under Thomas’ leadership as team president and the coaching staff led by Bill Laimbeer as head coach, the Liberty finished first in the Eastern Conference during the 2015 season.
    See Full Story

Liberty Primary Logo
Liberty Alternate Logo
Liberty Wordmark Logo

History of the Liberty

The New York Liberty is one of the most iconic teams in the WNBA. Founded in 1997, they have been a staple of professional women’s basketball for over two decades. Throughout their illustrious history, they have had remarkable success on and off the court.

Regarding accomplishments on the court, The Liberty has won four Eastern Conference Championships and made six trips to Finals during its tenure in WNBA play. They also boast an impressive list of players who have become stars at college-level programs and international competitions like the Olympics or World Cup tournaments, such as Cappie Pondexter, Kia Vaughn, Tina Charles, and Essence Carson. Additionally, their coaching staff has included Hall-of-Famers Anne Donovan (the first female head coach)and Bill Laimbeer (who led them to three consecutive Finals appearances).

Off-court wise, The Liberty is widely regarded as a pioneer in promoting women’s basketball through marketing campaigns targeting young girls, encouraging them to take up sports from a very early age. This was further backed by initiatives like the ‘Her Time To Play' program, where aspiring athletes were given access to resources needed for pursuing a career in the sport without any financial burden - something that few other organizations offer today. All these efforts eventually helped increase attendance figures at games significantly over time, making Madison Square Garden one of the most sought-after venues to watch live action inside hardwood floors every game night!

Liberty Products

WNBA New York Liberty Jump Start T-Shirt
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Fan Base T-Shirt
5.0 out of 5 stars(1)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Jump Start Pullover Hoodie
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Top Court Zip Hoodie
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty City Side T-Shirt
5.0 out of 5 stars(1)
Buy on Amazon
New York Liberty NY Flag Team WNBA Women's National Basketball Association 100% Polyester Indoor Outdoor 3 feet x 5 feet Flag (Black)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Top Court T-Shirt
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Jump Start Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Top Class T-Shirt
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty City Side Pullover Hoodie
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Jump Start Raglan Baseball Tee
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Fan Base Long Sleeve T-Shirt
5.0 out of 5 stars(1)
Buy on Amazon
New York Liberty WNBA Women's National Basketball Association Officially Licensed Sticker Vinyl Decal Laptop Water Bottle Car Scrapbook (4 Inch)
5.0 out of 5 stars(1)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Fan Base Pullover Hoodie
Buy on Amazon
WNBA Jumpstart Adult Oversized Vintage T-Shirt, Chalky Mint
5.0 out of 5 stars(1)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Top Court Sweatshirt
Buy on Amazon
Bleacher Creatures New York Liberty Breanna Stewart 8" WNBA Kuricha Plush - Soft Chibi Inspired WNBA Superstar
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Home Court Pullover Hoodie
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Commissioner's Cup 2023 Crown Affair T-Shirt
5.0 out of 5 stars(2)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Carry the Torch T-Shirt
5.0 out of 5 stars(1)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty City Side Tank Top
Buy on Amazon
New York Liberty Commissioner's Cup Champions Leaderboard Tank Top
Buy on Amazon
New York Liberty Metal License Plate Frame WNBA for Front or Back of Car Sigma (Team Name Frame)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Top Class Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Buy on Amazon
WNBA New York Liberty Jump Start V-Neck T-Shirt
Buy on Amazon




Established
1997

City
New York

League History
1997 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association

Team History
1997 – Present / New York Liberty

Nickname
Liberty – The New York Liberty is one of the most iconic teams in the WNBA, and their nickname has an interesting origin story. The team was founded in 1997 as part of a new professional basketball league for women. When it came time to name their franchise, they looked to history for inspiration.

The Statue of Liberty is an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy that stands tall over New York City’s harbor – so it made perfect sense for them to adopt “Liberty” as their nickname! It also reflects the spirit with which this team plays; they are always looking forward, anchored by solid fundamentals and a commitment to excellence on both ends of the court.

In addition, “Liberty” speaks directly to fans who have longed for more representation from female athletes at all levels – especially within professional sports leagues like the NBA or NFL, where opportunities were limited until recently. As such, when you cheer on your favorite players wearing those classic blue-and-orange uniforms emblazoned with Lady Liberty herself - make sure you take some extra pride in knowing what this name truly represents: strength through unity!

Championship
WNBA Championships 0

Arena
2020 - Present / Barclays Center
2018 – 2019 / Westchester County Center
1997–2010, 2014–2017 / Madison Square Garden
2011 – 2013 / Prudential Center

Owner
2020 - Present / Joe and Clara Tsai
2010 – 2019 / Madison Square Garden, Inc.
1997 – 2009 / Cablevision

Who is the greatest New York Liberty?
  • Add your greatest player

To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.

Retired Number

*Blue is this team’s history

Sports News History

Sports News Worth Knowing

RSS WNBA Headline News

  • Boards, paint key for Wings against Aces in Game 2
  • Can the Wings give the Aces problems?
  • Observations from the first leg of EuroLeague Women Qualifiers
  • It’s do or die for the Sun, Lynx in Game 3
  • Lynx force Game 3 as Aces sweep

Sports Market History

Sports Team Marketplace of Champions!

WNBA Logo Battle

WNBA Greatest Player

STH Product Sale

WNBA Teams
Menu
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
    • Orlando Miracle
  • Dallas Wings
    • Tulsa Shock
    • Detroit Shock
  • Indiana Fever
  • Las Vegas Aces
    • San Antonio Stars
    • San Antonio Silver Stars
    • Utah Starzz
  • Los Angeles Sparks
  • Minnesota Lynx
  • New York Liberty
  • Phoenix Mercury
  • Seattle Storm
  • Washington Mystics
  • Past Teams
    • Charlotte Sting
    • Cleveland Rockers
    • Houston Comets
    • Miami Sol
    • Portland Fire
    • Sacramento Monarchs

STH News

Latest Sports Team History News

Could the Kentucky Basketball team land the 5 Star recruit Boogie Fland?

September 28, 2023

USFL Venues | Information on Ford Field, Protective Stadium, Canton Hall of Fame Village, and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium

September 26, 2023

What Makes The Walter Payton Award Prestigious?

September 23, 2023

Giants vs. Jets: Who Is the Main New Jersey Football Team?

September 19, 2023

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Sports Logo History
Sports News History
Sports Market History
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Sports Team History
© 2013 - 2023 Sports History Group LLC - All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History
    • Basketball History
    • College History
    • Football History
    • Hockey History
    • Soccer History
  • Greatest Player Polls
  • More…
    • STH News
    • Sports Team History Products
Available for Amazon Prime