New York Liberty – Team Profile
The New York Liberty are one of the WNBA‘s original franchises, founded in 1997. Representing New York City, the Liberty have been a cornerstone of women’s professional basketball, known for their passionate fan base, iconic players, and consistent playoff appearances. The team plays its home games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Their modern team colors are seafoam green, black, and white, though the original color scheme reflected red, white, and blue.
General Information
- Founded: 1997
- Location: New York City, New York
- Arena: Barclays Center
- Team Colors: Seafoam Green, Black, White
- Ownership: Joe Tsai / Liberty Basketball Holdings
- League: WNBA
- Conference: Eastern Conference
- Mascot: Ellie the Elephant (introduced in 2021)
Championships & Finals Appearances
- WNBA Championships: 1 (2024)
- WNBA Finals Appearances: 6 (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2023, 2024)
- 1997: Lost single-game WNBA Finals to Houston Comets, 65–51
- 1999: Lost WNBA Finals to Houston Comets, 2–1
- 2000: Lost WNBA Finals to Houston Comets, 2–0
- 2002: Lost WNBA Finals to Los Angeles Sparks, 2–0
- 2023: Lost WNBA Finals to Las Vegas Aces, 3–1
- 2024: Defeated Minnesota Lynx, 3–2
Notable Awards & Honors
WNBA MVP Awards
- Breanna Stewart – 2023
WNBA Rookie of the Year
- Tina Charles – 2010
- Michaela Onyenwere – 2021
WNBA All-Star Selections
Notable All-Stars include Teresa Weatherspoon, Tina Charles, Sue Wicks, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart.
Playoff History
Through the 2024 season, the Liberty have qualified for 19 WNBA playoff campaigns. They were consistent playoff contenders in the late 1990s and early 2000s and rebuilt into a championship contender by the early 2020s.
Season-by-Season Record
| Season | W | L | Win% | Playoffs Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 18 | 10 | .643 | Lost single-game WNBA Finals 65–51 |
| 1998 | 18 | 12 | .600 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 1999 | 18 | 14 | .563 | Lost WNBA Finals 2–1 |
| 2000 | 20 | 12 | .625 | Lost WNBA Finals 2–0 |
| 2001 | 21 | 11 | .656 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 2002 | 18 | 14 | .563 | Lost WNBA Finals 2–0 |
| 2003 | 16 | 18 | .471 | Missed playoffs |
| 2004 | 15 | 19 | .441 | Lost First Round |
| 2005 | 16 | 18 | .471 | Missed playoffs |
| 2006 | 16 | 18 | .471 | Missed playoffs |
| 2007 | 11 | 23 | .324 | Missed playoffs |
| 2008 | 15 | 19 | .441 | Missed playoffs |
| 2009 | 6 | 28 | .176 | Missed playoffs |
| 2010 | 18 | 16 | .529 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 2011 | 15 | 19 | .441 | Missed playoffs |
| 2012 | 15 | 19 | .441 | Missed playoffs |
| 2013 | 11 | 23 | .324 | Missed playoffs |
| 2014 | 15 | 19 | .441 | Missed playoffs |
| 2015 | 23 | 11 | .676 | Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals |
| 2016 | 21 | 13 | .618 | Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals |
| 2017 | 22 | 12 | .647 | Lost Second Round |
| 2018 | 7 | 27 | .206 | Missed playoffs |
| 2019 | 10 | 24 | .294 | Missed playoffs |
| 2020 | 2 | 20 | .091 | Missed playoffs |
| 2021 | 12 | 20 | .375 | Missed playoffs |
| 2022 | 14 | 22 | .389 | Missed playoffs |
| 2023 | 22 | 14 | .611 | Lost WNBA Finals 3–1 |
| 2024 | 32 | 8 | .800 | WNBA Champions 3–2 |
Sponsorship & Jersey Partner Timeline
| Period | Partner | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Boost Mobile | League-wide marquee jersey partner |
| 2016–2023 | Verizon | Official jersey patch partner |
| 2024–present | Barclays | Official jersey patch partnerV |
