New York Liberty Champions Clinch History for NYC

New York Liberty Champions. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Breanna Stewart embraced her teammate Jonquel Jones in a long-awaited championship hug. Streamers floated down on the court as thousands of fans erupted in cheers, dancing and recording the moment on their phones.

The long wait was over. The New York Liberty, one of the original WNBA teams, won their first championship at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime, clinching the best-of-five series 3 games to 2. This victory marks a significant milestone for New York City, finally bringing a 21st-century basketball championship to the borough.

New York Liberty Champions : A Historic Victory at Barclays Center

After more than 25 years of striving across four different home arenas, the Liberty are set to hang a championship banner at Barclays Center, their current home. City buildings will be illuminated in the team’s signature “sea foam” color, and Mayor Eric Adams has promised a celebratory parade. History has indeed been made.

“To bring a championship to New York, the first ever in franchise history, it’s an incredible feeling,” said Stewart, who hails from North Syracuse, NY. “I literally can’t wait to celebrate with the city because it’s going to be bonkers.”

Breaking the Championship Drought

This championship not only represents a first for the Liberty but also ends a long championship drought for professional basketball in the New York area. The Liberty’s victory is the first for a New York major pro basketball team since the New York Nets won the last title of the defunct American Basketball Association in 1976, just before merging with the NBA.

The New York Knicks have not won an NBA championship since 1973, leaving a half-century gap. While the Knicks and the Nets continue to pursue their own elusive trophies, the Liberty secured theirs with a talented and resilient roster that faced a fierce challenge from the Lynx.

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Controversy and Tension in the Final Moments

The championship game was not without its controversies. With the Liberty trailing by two points and just 5.2 seconds left in regulation, Minnesota’s Alanna Smith was called for a questionable foul on Stewart. The Lynx requested a video review, but the call stood, much to the dismay of Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve, who argued that the game was decided by a bad call.

“All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul,’” she declared. “Bring it on, because this was stolen from us.”

Despite the pressure, Stewart remained composed, successfully making two free throws that helped push the game into overtime. The Liberty controlled the overtime period, allowing nervous fans to count down the seconds as they secured their victory.

Celebrating a Historic Win

As the final buzzer sounded, fans roared, hugging one another and dancing through the concourse of the arena while singing Queen’s “We Are the Champions.” Outside, jubilant supporters shouted, “Basketball is back in New York, baby.”

Myrna Morales-Fraser, a season-ticket holder since 1999, celebrated with her wife, saying, “We did it! We’ve been waiting so long, and it feels so good. I can’t believe we won.”

The Journey to the Championship

Since the WNBA’s formation in 1997, the Liberty have seen incredible talent grace their roster, including Vickie Johnson, Tina Charles, and Hall of Famers Becky Hammon and Teresa Weatherspoon. Despite reaching the finals five times without a title, the Liberty finally found their moment of glory.

The franchise has a storied history, moving from Madison Square Garden to Newark and White Plains, even playing games at Radio City Music Hall. The Liberty settled in Brooklyn in 2020 and quickly assembled a championship-caliber team led by Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jones, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the finals.

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A Transformative Year

The turning point for the Liberty began when they drafted Ionescu from the University of Oregon in the 2020 WNBA Draft. That year, the team struggled, winning only two out of 22 games. Before the 2022 season, the Liberty hired Sandy Brondello, a former WNBA player and championship-winning coach, to guide the team.

In 2023, the Liberty bolstered their lineup by signing Stewart, a two-time MVP and champion with the Seattle Storm. “This is more personal,” Stewart stated. “Because I’m from New York. I came here for a reason.”

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The Drive for Success

Stewart’s determination was fueled by last year’s loss to the Las Vegas Aces in the finals. “We have that scar, and that hurt from last year. This moment feels different, and we’ll be ready,” she said.

Stewart and her teammates delivered a performance that transformed New York basketball history. They achieved what legendary players like Weatherspoon, Charles, Patrick Ewing, and Jason Kidd could not: they made a New York basketball team into champions.

This victory not only elevates the Liberty but also revives the spirit of basketball in New York City, making this championship a moment to remember for years to come.

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