Joe Tsai
Who owned New York Liberty between Jan 2019 and Feb 2019?
New York Liberty The New York Liberty is an American professional basketball team based in Brooklyn , New York City , which plays in the Womens National Basketball Association ( WNBA ) as part of the Eastern Conference . The team was founded in 1997 and is one of the eight original franchises of the league . The team is owned by Joe Tsai , the majority owner of the Brooklyn Nets . The teams home games are played at Barclays Center . The Liberty have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in fourteen of its twenty-four years . The franchise has been home to many well-known players such as Teresa Weatherspoon , Rebecca Lobo , Becky Hammon , Leilani Mitchell , Essence Carson , Cappie Pondexter , Tina Charles , and the teams first-ever No.1 overall Draft pick Sabrina Ionescu . The Liberty have four conference championships and have played in the WNBA Finals four times , falling to the Houston Comets in 1997 , 1999 , and 2000 , and losing to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002 . They have the most appearances in the WNBA Finals without a championship . Franchise history . Early success ( 1997–2002 ) . Prior to the teams first season , to avoid potential trademark infringement , the team purchased the trademarks of the defunct Liberty Basketball Association . When the WNBA opened in 1997 , the Liberty were one of the first teams to choose a player , and they signed college superstar Rebecca Lobo ( UConn ) to a contract . Lobo was a starter for two seasons , but was injured in 1999 . Her injuries eventually led to her retirement several seasons later . Point guard Teresa Weatherspoon emerged as a star , and the Liberty made it to the 1997 championship game , where the team lost to the Houston Comets . In 1999 , they added Crystal Robinson with the 6th overall pick and returned to the WNBA Finals , where they again faced the Comets . In Game 2 , Teresa Weatherspoons halfcourt shot at the buzzer gave the Liberty a one-point road win that tied the series at a game apiece . However , the Liberty lost the third game of the series and the Comets became champions for a third straight time . In 2000 , the Liberty traded for Tari Phillips who blossomed in New York and made four straight All-Star teams . In 2001 , Weatherspoon became the WNBAs all-time assist leader . Teamed with Robinson , Phillips and an emerging Sue Wicks , who was once a back-up to Lobo at forward but made the 2000 All-Star game , Weatherspoon and the Liberty subsequently returned to the finals in 2000 and 2002 , but lost once again to the Comets and to the Los Angeles Sparks , respectively . The Liberty also advanced to the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals in 2001 . Transition seasons ( 2003–2009 ) . The 2003 season marked a transition for the Liberty and with team leader Teresa Weatherspoons WNBA career winding down , fan favorite Becky Hammon emerged as a star player . The 2004 season saw Hammon replacing Weatherspoon as the teams starting point guard . The Liberty played six of their home games during the 2004 season at Radio City Music Hall as Madison Square Garden was hosting the 2004 Republican National Convention . These games marked the first time Radio City had hosted a professional sporting event since the Roy Jones Jr . boxing match held in 1999 . With team leader Tari Phillips being signed away to the Houston Comets , Ann Wauters emerged as a force at the teams starting center position in 2005 . However , she was unfortunately injured midway through the season . The loss of Wauters was felt as the team was swept two games to none by the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs . The Liberty had a poor 2006 season , winning only 11 games , the fewest in franchise history . At the beginning of the 2007 WNBA season , the team traded Becky Hammon to the San Antonio Silver Stars for Jessica Davenport , a first round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft . They also acquired center Janel McCarville through the dispersal draft associated with the dissolution of the Charlotte Sting . The 2007 Liberty started out 5–0 , then lost 7 straight games , then rallied at the end of the season to get the last playoff spot by winning 3 out of their last 4 games , beating the Washington Mystics on the tiebreaker of head-to-head record . In the Eastern Conference semifinals , the Liberty , as huge underdogs , faced the defending champion Detroit Shock in a best-of-three series . The Liberty defeated the Shock by winning Game 1 in New York . In Games 2 and 3 the Liberty lost both games to the Shock in Detroit , 76–73 and 71–70 ( OT ) respectively . In 2008 , the Liberty drafted former Rutgers shooting guard Essence Carson and former North Carolina forward Erlana Larkins , and signed former Utah point guard Leilani Mitchell during the preseason . Despite having the youngest average age of any WNBA team , the Liberty managed to win 19 regular season games in 2008 , to defeat the Connecticut Sun in the first round of playoff action , and to come within two points of defeating the Detroit Shock in the third and last game of the Eastern Conference Finals . Again , the Detroit series entailed a Liberty victory at home in Game 1 , followed by narrow defeats away in Games 2 and 3 . The 2008 season also featured the Liberty Outdoor Classic , the first ever professional regular season basketball game to be played outdoors , on July 19 at Arthur Ashe Stadium of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center . The Indiana Fever defeated the Liberty in the Outdoor Classic . In the 2009 WNBA Draft , the Liberty selected local favorite Kia Vaughn from Rutgers . With a solid core group , the Liberty looked to be a contender in the East yet again . In the 2009 season , however , they never proved to be a contender and the team fired head coach Pat Coyle . To replace Coyle , the Liberty hired then-Liberty assistant coach Anne Donovan on an interim basis . Despite the coaching change , the franchise continued to struggle , finishing 13–21 , their second worst record in franchise history . The Cappie Pondexter era ( 2010–2014 ) . The New York Liberty fared better in 2010 , during Donovans 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 . The team had high hopes for 2011 , after the hiring of former WNBA champion head coach John Whisenant . Janel McCarville did not report to training camp , seeking time with her family , and as such , was suspended for the duration of the 2011 season . This caused division and discord within the New York Liberty fanbase . Kia Vaughn was unexpectedly thrust into the role of starting Center . The Liberty were originally scheduled to be displaced from their usual home court due to renovations at Madison Square Garden scheduled to begin in 2009 . However , the renovation plans were delayed , and the Liberty played at the Garden in 2009 and 2010 . The Liberty ended up playing in the Prudential Center in Newark , New Jersey for their 2011 , 2012 , and 2013 seasons while the renovations were ongoing . Pondexter and Plenette Pierson , along with improved play from Vaughn , allowed New York to be competitive early in the 2011 season . The team went into the All-Star break in third place in the Eastern Conference . In August , Sidney Spencer was traded to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kara Braxton . By maintaining a fairly even standard of play , the Liberty made their way into the WNBA Playoffs . However , the Liberty fell to the Indiana Fever in the Eastern Conference Semifinals . Isiah Thomas takes over ( 2015–2018 ) . On May 5 , 2015 , the 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 . On August 2 , 2015 , during halftime at the game against the Seattle Storm , the New York Liberty inducted WNBA legend Becky Hammon into the Libertys Ring of Honor . Thomas presented Hammon with her ring during the induction ceremony at Madison Square Garden . Hammon , a former New York Liberty point guard , is currently an NBA assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs . After qualifying for the 2016 WNBA Playoffs , the Liberty lost to the Phoenix Mercury in the second round . In November 2017 , the Madison Square Garden Company and James L . Dolan announced they were actively looking to sell the franchise . After not immediately finding a buyer , MSG relocated most of the Libertys 2018 home games to Westchester County Center in nearby White Plains , New York , the home of MSGs NBA G League team the Westchester Knicks , while still continuing to pursue a sale . Joseph Tsai buys team . On January 23 , 2019 , the Liberty were sold to Joseph Tsai , co-founder of the Alibaba Group , a Chinese internet company , who then owned 49% of the NBAs Brooklyn Nets . During the 2019 season , the Liberty played two games in Brooklyn at the Nets home of the Barclays Center , with the rest still in White Plains . Later that year , Tsai became the sole owner of the Nets and the Barclays Center . For the 2020 season , Tsai relocated the Liberty to Brooklyn on a full-time basis . The Liberty were major players in the 2020 WNBA draft , entering that draft with three first-round picks plus two in the early second round . Shortly before the draft , they traded former league MVP Tina Charles to the Washington Mystics in a deal that also involved the Dallas Wings . They chose Sabrina Ionescu as the first pick , with Megan Walker and Jazmine Jones selected later in that round . The team also introduced a new logo , featuring a simplified version of their Statue of Liberty branding . The color black was also made one of the primary colors , echoing the aesthetic of their NBA brother squad , the Brooklyn Nets . The Liberty began the 2020 season , held in a bubble in Bradenton , Florida due to the COVID-19 pandemic , with seven rookies on their opening-night roster . The team suffered a major blow in their third game , in which Ionescu suffered a severe ankle sprain that ultimately ended her season . The Liberty ended the season with a league-worst 2–20 record . Statistics . ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |APG ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |FG% ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |APG ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |FG% ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |APG ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |FG% ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |APG ! |PPG ! |RPG ! |FG% Former players . - Elena Baranova ( 2003–2005 ) - Sherill Baker ( 2006–2007 ) - Kelsey Bone ( 2013 ) , now a member of the Las Vegas Aces - Essence Carson ( 2008–2015 ) , now a member of the Connecticut Sun - Swin Cash ( 2014–2016 ) - Tina Charles ( 2014–2019 ) , now a member of the Washington Mystics - Shameka Christon ( 2004–2009 ) - Jessica Davenport ( 2007–2008 ) - Barbara Farris ( 2006–2007 ) - Kisha Ford ( 1997–1998 ) - Becky Hammon ( 1999–2006 ) , now an assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs - Kym Hampton ( 1997–1999 ) , now Fan Development Leader for the Liberty - Lindsey Harding ( 2016 ) - Tiffany Jackson Jones ( 2007–2010 ) - Vickie Johnson ( 1997–2005 ) , now a head coach of the Dallas Wings - Cathrine Kraayeveld ( 2005–2009 ) - Rebecca Lobo ( 1997–2001 ) - Janel McCarville ( 2007–2010 ) - Taj McWilliams-Franklin ( 2010 ) - DeLisha Milton-Jones ( 2013–2014 ) - Leilani Mitchell ( 2008–2013 ) , now a member of the Washington Mystics - Loree Moore ( 2005–2009 ) - Tari Phillips ( 2000–2004 ) - Cappie Pondexter ( 2010–2014 ) - Crystal Robinson ( 1999–2005 ) - Katie Smith ( 2013 ) , now an assistant coach of the Minnesota Lynx - Erin Thorn ( 2003–2008 ) - Teresa Weatherspoon ( 1997–2003 ) , now an assistant coach of the New Orleans Pelicans - Tamika Whitmore ( 1999–2003 ) - Sue Wicks ( 1997–2002 ) - Sophia Witherspoon ( 1997–1999 ) Coaches and staff . Owners . - Cablevision , owner of the New York Knicks ( 1997–2009 ) - Madison Square Garden , Inc. , owner of the New York Knicks ( 2010–2019 ) - Joe Tsai ( 2019–Present ) General Managers . - Carol Blazejowski ( 1996–2010 ) - John Whisenant ( 2011–2012 ) - Bill Laimbeer ( 2013–2014 , 2017 ) - Kristin Bernert ( 2015–2016 ) - Jonathan Kolb ( 2019–present ) Head coaches . Assistant coaches . - Melissa McFerrin ( 1997–1998 ) - Pat Coyle ( 1998–2004 ) - Jeff House ( 1999–2004 ) - Marianne Stanley ( 2004–2006 ) - Nick DiPillo ( 2005–2008 ) - Bruce Hamburger ( 2007–2008 ) - Anne Donovan ( 2009 ) - Laurie Byrd ( 2009–2010 ) - Monique Ambers ( 2011–2012 ) - Lady Grooms ( 2011–2012 ) - Norm Ellenberger ( 2012 ) - Barbara Farris ( 2013–2014 , 2018–2019 ) - Taj McWilliams-Franklin ( 2013 ) - Katie Smith ( 2014–2017 ) - Herb Williams ( 2015–2019 ) - Charmin Smith ( 2019 ) - Kelly Schumacher ( 2020 ) - Shelley Patterson ( 2020–present ) - Dustin Gray ( 2020–present ) - Jacki Gemelos ( 2021-present ) All-time notes . Regular season attendance . - A sellout for a basketball game at Madison Square Garden ( 1997–2010 ) is 19,563 . - A sellout for a basketball game at Prudential Center ( 2011–2013 ) is 18,711 . - A sellout for a basketball game at Madison Square Garden ( 2013–2017 ) is 19,812 . - A sellout for a basketball game at Westchester County Center ( 2018–2019 ) is 5,000 . - A sellout for a Liberty game at Barclays Center ( 2021–future ) is considered to be 8,000 , the teams initial cap on ticket sales at that venue . The full capacity for basketball is 17,732 . Draft picks . - 1997 Elite : Kym Hampton ( 4 ) , Vickie Johnson ( 12 ) - 1997 : Sue Wicks ( 6 ) , Sophia Witherspoon ( 11 ) , Trena Trice ( 22 ) , Kisha Ford ( 27 ) - 1998 : Alicia Thompson ( 9 ) , Nadine Domond ( 19 ) , Albena Branzova ( 29 ) , Vanessa Nygaard ( 39 ) - 1999 : Crystal Robinson ( 6 ) , Michele Van Gorp ( 18 ) , Tamika Whitmore ( 30 ) , Carolyn Jones-Young ( 42 ) - 2000 : Olga Firsova ( 13 ) , Desiree Francis ( 29 ) , Jessica Bibby ( 45 ) , Natalie Porter ( 61 ) - 2001 : Taru Tuukkanen ( 57 ) , Tara Mitchem ( 60 ) - 2002 : Linda Frohlich ( 26 ) , Tracy Gahan ( 46 ) , Dee Dee Warley ( 62 ) - 2003 Miami/Portland Dispersal Draft : Elena Baranova ( 11 ) - 2003 : Molly Creamer ( 10 ) , Erin Thorn ( 17 ) , Sonja Mallory ( 24 ) , Kristen Brook Sharp ( 26 ) , Nicole Kaczmarski ( 39 ) - 2004 Cleveland Dispersal Draft : Ann Wauters ( 4 ) - 2004 : Shameka Christon ( 5 ) , Amisha Carter ( 17 ) , Cathy Joens ( 30 ) - 2005 : Loree Moore ( 10 ) , Tabitha Pool ( 23 ) , Rebecca Richman ( 36 ) - 2006 : Sherill Baker ( 12 ) , Brooke Queenan ( 23 ) , Christelle NGarsanet ( 37 ) - 2007 Charlotte Dispersal Draft : Janel McCarville ( 3 ) - 2007 : Tiffany Jackson ( 5 ) , Shay Doron ( 16 ) , Martina Weber ( 29 ) - 2008 : Essence Carson ( 7 ) , Erlana Larkins ( 14 ) , Wanisha Smith ( 27 ) , Alberta Auguste ( 35 ) - 2009 Houston Dispersal Draft : selection waived - 2009 : Kia Vaughn ( 8 ) , Abby Waner ( 21 ) - 2010 Sacramento Dispersal Draft : Nicole Powell ( 1 ) - 2010 : Kalana Greene ( 13 ) , Ashley Houts ( 16 ) , Cory Montgomery ( 25 ) - 2011 : Alex Montgomery ( 10 ) , Angel Robinson ( 22 ) , Mekia Valentine ( 34 ) - 2012 : Kelley Cain ( 7 ) , Katelan Redmon ( 36 ) - 2013 : Kelsey Bone ( 5 ) , Toni Young ( 7 ) , Kamiko Williams ( 15 ) , Shenneika Smith ( 25 ) , Olcay Çakır ( 27 ) - 2014 : Alyssa Thomas ( 4 ) , Tyaunna Marshall ( 14 ) , Meighan Simmons ( 26 ) - 2015 : Brittany Boyd ( 9 ) , Kiah Stokes ( 11 ) , Amber Orrange ( 23 ) , Laurin Mincy ( 27 ) , Michala Johnson ( 28 ) - 2016 : Adut Bulgak ( 12 ) , Ameryst Alston ( 24 ) , Shacobia Barbee ( 36 ) - 2017 : Lindsay Allen ( 14 ) , Kai James ( 34 ) - 2018 : Kia Nurse ( 10 ) , Mercedes Russell ( 22 ) , Leslie Robinson ( 34 ) - 2019 : Asia Durr ( 2 ) , Han Xu ( 14 ) , Megan Huff ( 26 ) - 2020 : Sabrina Ionescu ( 1 ) , Megan Walker ( 9 ) , Jazmine Jones ( 12 ) , Kylee Shook ( 13 ) , Leaonna Odom ( 15 ) , Erica Ogwumike ( 26 ; traded to Minnesota ) - 2021 : Michaela Onyenwere ( 6 ) , DiDi Richards ( 17 ) , Valerie Higgins ( 25 ) , Marine Fauthoux ( 29 ) Trades . - December 15 , 1999 : The Liberty acquired Michele Van Gorp from the Portland Fire in exchange for Portland agreeing to select Sophia Witherspoon and Coquese Washington in the expansion draft . - May 28 , 2000 : The Liberty traded Carolyn Jones-Young to the Portland Fire in exchange for Tari Phillips . - February 24 , 2006 : The Liberty traded the 9th overall pick in the 2006 Draft to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Kelly Schumacher and the 12th overall pick in the 2006 Draft . - April 4 , 2007 : The Liberty traded Becky Hammon and a second-round pick in the 2008 Draft to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for draft rights to Jessica Davenport and a first-round pick in the 2008 Draft . - June 20 , 2007 : The Liberty traded Sherill Baker to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Lisa Willis . - May 7 , 2008 : The Liberty traded a third-round pick in the 2009 Draft to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Leilani Mitchell . - May 5 , 2009 : The Liberty traded a first-round pick in the 2010 Draft to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Sidney Spencer . - March 30 , 2010 : The Liberty traded Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld to the Chicago Sky in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2010 Draft and Cappie Pondexter and Kelly Mazzante from the Phoenix Mercury . Phoenix received Candice Dupree from Chicago as part of this trade . - April 11 , 2011 : The Liberty traded Angel Robinson to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Jessica Breland and a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft . - April 11 , 2011 : The Liberty traded Kalana Greene to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Sydney Colson . - May 27 , 2011 : The Liberty acquired Quanitra Hollingsworth from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the right to swap third-round picks in the 2012 Draft . - August 4 , 2011 : The Liberty traded Sidney Spencer to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kara Braxton . - February 27 , 2013 : The Liberty traded Kia Vaughn to the Washington Mystics in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2013 Draft . - March 1 , 2013 : The Liberty traded Janel McCarville to the Minnesota Lynx and Nicole Powell plus a third-round pick in the 2013 Draft to the Tulsa Shock . In exchange , the Liberty received Deanna Nolan , a second-round pick in the 2013 Draft , and a third-round pick in the 2013 Draft . - April 15 , 2013 : The Liberty traded Quanitra Hollingsworth to the Washington Mystics in exchange for the 25th overall pick in the 2013 Draft . - April 14 , 2014 : The Liberty traded Kelsey Bone , Alyssa Thomas , and a first-round pick in the 2015 Draft to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Tina Charles . - July 9 , 2014 : The Liberty traded DeLisha Milton-Jones to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Swin Cash . - February 16 , 2015 : The Liberty traded Cappie Pondexter to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Epiphanny Prince . - April 16 , 2015 : The Liberty traded Alex Montgomery to the San Antonio Stars in exchange for the 9th overall pick in the 2015 Draft . The Liberty also traded Anna Cruz and 16th and 35th overall pick to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the 11th , 23rd and 28th overall pick in the 2015 Draft . - May 2 , 2016 : The Liberty traded a second-round pick in the 2017 Draft to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Shoni Schimmel . - May 11 , 2016 : The Liberty traded a first-round pick in the 2017 Draft to the Dallas Wings in exchange for Amanda Zahui B . and a second-round pick in the 2017 Draft . - January 30 , 2017 : The Liberty traded Carolyn Swords , a first-round pick in the 2017 Draft to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Kia Vaughn and Bria Hartley . - April 11 , 2019 : The Liberty traded their second round pick in the 2020 Draft to Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Tanisha Wright . - April 11 , 2020 : The Liberty engaged in a three team trade where the team acquired the 13th pick in the 2020 Draft and sent Sugar Rodgers to Las Vegas . - April 17 , 2020 : The Liberty traded the draft rights to Erica Ogwumike to Minneosta in exchnage for Stephanie Talbot . - April 17 , 2020 : The Liberty acquired the draft rights for Jocelyn Willoughby from Phoenix in exchange for Shatori Walker-Kimbrough . All-Stars . - 1999 : Kym Hampton , Vickie Johnson , Rebecca Lobo , Teresa Weatherspoon - 2000 : Tari Phillips , Teresa Weatherspoon , Sue Wicks - 2001 : Vickie Johnson , Tari Phillips , Teresa Weatherspoon - 2002 : Tari Phillips , Teresa Weatherspoon - 2003 : Becky Hammon , Tari Phillips , Teresa Weatherspoon - 2004 : Becky Hammon - 2005 : Becky Hammon , Ann Wauters - 2006 : None - 2007 : None - 2008 : No All-Star Game - 2009 : Shameka Christon - 2010 : Cappie Pondexter - 2011 : Essence Carson , Cappie Pondexter - 2012 : No All-Star Game - 2013 : Cappie Pondexter - 2014 : Tina Charles , Cappie Pondexter - 2015 : Tina Charles - 2016 : No All-Star Game - 2017 : Tina Charles , Sugar Rodgers - 2018 : Tina Charles - 2019 : Tina Charles , Kia Nurse - 2020 : No All-Star Game Honors and awards . - 1997 All-WNBA Second Team : Rebecca Lobo - 1997 All-WNBA Second Team : Teresa Weatherspoon - 1997 Defensive Player of the Year : Teresa Weatherspoon - 1998 All-WNBA Second Team : Teresa Weatherspoon - 1998 Defensive Player of the Year : Teresa Weatherspoon - 1999 All-WNBA Second Team : Teresa Weatherspoon - 2000 All-WNBA Second Team : Teresa Weatherspoon - 2000 Most Improved Player : Tari Phillips - 2001 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award : Sue Wicks - 2002 All-WNBA Second Team : Tari Phillips - 2005 All-WNBA Second Team : Becky Hammon - 2007 Most Improved Player : Janel McCarville - 2007 All-Defensive Second Team : Loree Moore - 2010 All-WNBA First Team : Cappie Pondexter - 2010 Most Improved Player : Leilani Mitchell - 2010 All-Defensive First Team : Cappie Pondexter - 2010 All-Rookie Team : Kalana Greene - 2011 All-WNBA Second Team : Cappie Pondexter - 2011 Most Improved Player : Kia Vaughn - 2012 All-WNBA First Team : Cappie Pondexter - 2013 All-Rookie Team : Kelsey Bone - 2014 All-WNBA Second Team : Tina Charles - 2015 Coach of the Year : Bill Laimbeer - 2015 All-Rookie Team : Brittany Boyd - 2015 All-Rookie Team : Kiah Stokes - 2015 All-Defensive Second Team : Tina Charles - 2015 All-Defensive Second Team : Kiah Stokes - 2015 All-Defensive Second Team : Tanisha Wright - 2015 All-WNBA First Team : Tina Charles - 2015 All-WNBA Second Team : Epiphanny Prince - 2016 Peak Performer ( Points ) : Tina Charles - 2016 Peak Performer ( Rebounds ) : Tina Charles - 2016 All-Defensive Second Team : Tanisha Wright - 2017 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year : Sugar Rodgers Media coverage . Liberty games are broadcast on the YES Network , which is a regional sports network based in New York City . More often than not , NBA TV will pick up the feed from the local broadcast , which is shown nationally . Broadcasters for the Liberty games are Mike Crispino , Rosalyn Gold-Onwude and Julianne Viani . All games ( excluding blackout games , which are available on ESPN3.com ) are broadcast to the WNBA LiveAccess game feeds on the league website . Furthermore , some Liberty games are broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network , ESPN , ESPN2 and ABC . The WNBA has reached an eight-year agreement with ESPN , which will pay right fees to the Liberty , as well as other teams in the league . On May 22 , 2019 , the YES Network announced that it would broadcast 16 Liberty games for the 2019 season , adding to the networks existing basketball coverage of the Brooklyn Nets . Previously , games had been broadcast on MSG Network .