'
Conference: Eastern
Founded: 1997
Arena: Barclays Center
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Head coach: Walt Hopkins
''
The New York Liberty competes in the Eastern Division of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Liberty first took the floor in 1987 and was one of eight teams to take part in the WNBA's inaugural season. The Liberty franchise has been home to a number of great players, and the team has appeared in four league finals. The first finals appearance for the Liberty was a loss to the Houston Comets in the WNBA's first season. The Liberty lost to the Comets twice more in the league finals in 1999 and 2000. Appearing in the finals once again in 2002, the Liberty fell 2-0 to the
Los Angeles Sparks
. A long list of great players have played their professional basketball for the New York Liberty, but the team is still looking to bring home that elusive first championship. To watch their championship quest, get your New York Liberty Basketball tickets at StubHub.
''
The New York Liberty will play its 2020 home games at
Barclays Center
in Brooklyn, N.Y. The team was bought a year ago by Joe Tsai, who also purchased an interest in the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. The change in venue, along with the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft, is cause for excitement in Liberty nation.
''
The New York Liberty begins the 2020 season on the road against the
Connecticut Sun
. The home schedule for the Liberty starts a day later when they host the Los Angeles Sparks. The four-month regular season for the Liberty ends on the road against the
Indiana Fever
on Sept. 20. You can visit StubHub for the exact dates and times of all 36 New York Liberty regular-season basketball games.
''The New York Liberty is excited to land their first big acquisition of the free-agent period, veteran guard Layshia Clarendon. The 28-year-old entered the league as a first-round pick of the Indiana Fever in 2013. Clarendon played in the All-Star game in 2017. Rising star Kia Nurse was an all-star starter in just her second year in the WNBA. The 23-year-old was selected 10th by the Liberty in the 2018 NBA draft. Nurse takes and makes a lot of three-pointers and has shown the ability to do so off the dribble or after receiving a pass.'
'
Walt Hopkins was the man tapped by the New York Liberty to become the eighth head coach in franchise history at the start of the 2020 season. Hopkins took over as coach of the Liberty after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant for the
Minnesota Lynx
. During Hopkins' time with the Lynx, the team accumulated a 63-39 record and earned three consecutive WNBA playoff berths. The Lynx also played in a WNBA Championship series.
''The Ring of Honor created by the New York Liberty recognizes players who made extraordinary contributions to the Liberty franchise. Teresa Weatherspoon was a major part of the Liberty team that played in the first WNBA final. She was also voted to the league's first four all-star games. Sue Wicks was a member of the New York Liberty from 1997 to 2002. Wicks was an all-star starter in 2000 and won the Kim Perrot Award in 2001. Becky Hammon was an important player on three New York Liberty championship teams. She also led the team in scoring and steals in consecutive seasons. Kym Hampton played every game of the three seasons she was a New York Liberty player. Hampton was the first player ever drafted by the Liberty and scored the first basket in team history. Rebecca Lobo and Vickie Johnson are the other women who have earned spots in the Liberty Ring of Honor.'