The New York Liberty’s Legacy Begins
On October 20, 2024, the New York Liberty took on the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA final. The New York Liberty won, earning their first championship title in the history of the franchise. While the Liberty were the favorites to win the title, they didn’t succeed without a fight.
Both teams had won two games in a best-of-five format, meaning the WNBA Champion would be decided in one final winner-takes-all game. With ten seconds remaining in overtime, WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart drained both free throws putting the Liberty up by five and securing the WNBA championship. In a historic turn of events, the Liberty won the championship 67-62. Following the game, Director of Debate Mx. Jillian Dushane, a long-time fan of the Liberty, said it came down to “who wanted it more.… I felt the Liberty had a lot more heart, [and] a lot more grit,” and that is why they won. One of only three original teams in the league, The Liberty, attained their first title on their home court with Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blasting in the background. The arena was electric with fans clapping and chanting, confetti falling on the players and fans overcome with emotions. After twenty-eight years, the Liberty had finally done it. Co-owner of the the New York Liberty Mrs. Clara Wu Tsai described her feelings during the moment: “I had tears of relief first, then of gratitude, joy, and pure happiness that we could finally win a championship for the Liberty franchise and for our fans who supported this team so passionately season after season. I was so happy to win at home in front of our fans. That was our destiny”. Mx. Dushane expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “It gives the city something to be proud about…you want to root for them because they are from New York.”
The team, established in 1997, was one of the original eight teams of the WNBA. They have made it to the finals five times before, yet each time, they left empty-handed, making them the only original WNBA team without a title. However, this year they had “rebuilt the roster with the goal of forming a team that could win championships”, said Mrs. Wu Tsai. With former MVPs, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stuart, and two of the best point guards in the league, Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu, they achieved just that.
Lonescu and Stewart, the usual leaders of the team, made only 5 of 34 shots. But as Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Nick Walsh said, “The best thing a player can do is have a short memory and not worry about making a mistake and just be able to move on for the next one and try to make up for it.” Stuart did not give up. She had 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocked shots. Other players were also forced to step up into a new role: Jonquel Jones scored a team-high of 17 points, Kayla Thornton made the first basket of overtime, and Sabally came off the bench and scored 13 points. Not only was she able to score, but she also made one-on-one plays, rebounded the ball, and played strong defense. She embodied what Mr. Walsh believes is the key to success: the power of teamwork. He explained that “those … sitting on the bench have to be engaged and cheering and want to see their teammates do well. And also be ready to come off the bench and know what their role and responsibility is going to be.” Mrs. Wu Tsai further added, “Right now, the team–our brand, culture, and values–are stronger than any one player. When the entire team is aligned with a goal and puts the team first, that is how we win.”
On top of teamwork, the team had good chemistry. With the help of weekly culture meetings and mental performance coach Paddy Steinfort, they created a deeper connection among the team members. Mrs. Wu Tsai explained by “invest[ing] in the performance team” they were able to help the team bond, which ultimately contributed to earning their first title. Steinfort helped players think optimistically and work through setbacks. He helped them maintain their goals, work humbly, and push through even if they were not 100%.
According to ESPN, the final game was the most viewed WNBA Final in 25 years, peaking at almost 3.3 million views and averaging at 2.2 million. The game competed for viewers with the MLB playoffs. After the Liberty moved out of a small arena in White Plains, and into the New York Barclays Center, their game attendance skyrocketed.. Dr. Manko explained,“It’s a different atmosphere…if you go to a Liberty game, it is a party…it’s fun to be there”. Further, Mrs. Wu Tsai said, “For the first time, the Liberty negotiated a local media deal last season with an over-the-air provider (My9 and Fox5) which allowed 7.5 million households in the tri-state area to view Liberty games for free,” giving the Liberty more opportunities to grow their fanbase.
The WNBA continues to expand with new teams launching, more season games added, and an updated seven-game final. Mrs. Wu Tsai expressed that she “hope[s] that our success will inspire other owners to invest in their teams because they see what is possible when you invest…we believe in the business potential of women’s professional basketball in New York City” and hope to create a championship culture in the future.
