Online Encyclopedia
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty are a Women's National Basketball Association team. They play at Madison Square Garden in New York and they were one of the eight original teams that began to see action in 1997.
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Uniform
White with a black line above the shoulders at home, Black with a green line on the road. Their logo is of a Statue of Liberty with a basketball and the name Liberty across it.
Playoff History
Playoff Appearances: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
Conference Championships: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002
WNBA Championships:
History
The term Always the bridesmaid, never the bride could describe the Liberty. 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 into a contract. Lobo got injured quickly, however, and her injuries have haunted her ever since. Despite this, the Liberty made it to the 1997 championship game, where they lost to the Houston Comets. In 1999, they returned to the WNBA finals, where they lost two games to one to the Comets, despite Teresa Weatherspoon making what many consider one of the most spectacular shots in professional basketball history when she hit a shot from the other side of the court with one second to go to give the Liberty a one point win in game two. The Liberty subsequently returned to the finals in 2000 and 2002, but they lost, once again, to the Comets and to the Los Angeles Sparks respectively. In 2001, Weatherspoon became the WNBA's all time assist leader, and in addition to that, Sue Wicks, once a back-up center to Lobo, has also proven to be a good surprise for the team, making the All Star game. 1998 and 2003 were the only years they failed to make the playoffs. Six games during the 2004 season were moved to Radio City Music Hall as Madison Square Garden was hosting the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Retired Numbers
Hall of Famers
Not to be Forgotten
- Rebecca Lobo
- Kim Hampton
Current Stars
- Tari Phillips
- Tamika Whitmore
- Teresa Weatherspoon
- Becky Hammon
- Vickie Johnson
- Sue Wicks