B SPORTS EAT Liberty aced out

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

The New York Liberty will win a WNBA title; however, it will not be in 2023. The Liberty made their fifth-ever trip to the WNBA Finals, albeit their first since 2002, when they lost to the Los Angeles Sparks. In the 1990s they were beaten three times by the now-defunct Houston Comets.

Last Wednesday, they were beaten in Game 4 by the Las Vegas Aces, who were led by Aja Wilson and Jackie Young. The Aces became the first team in WNBA history to repeat as champions. Viva Las Vegas.

Between 2002 and 2022, the Liberty were on a downward trajectory. They had few stars, and attendance had dropped so precipitously that owner James Dolan moved their home games from Madison Square Garden to the Westchester Arena in White Plains. Dolan, to his credit, stuck it out as a WNBA team owner far longer than most of the original owners. Two years ago he sold the club to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai. The Libs relocated to the Barclays Center.

trophy in 2024.

There was plenty of good news for the WNBA. ESPN sent out a press release touting the high ratings the Finals received. For the first time I can recall, sports talk radio stations were providing Liberty coverage. The league also was attracting traditional male sports fans who have long believed following the women’s professional basketball league was not something guys do. WFAN air personality Evan Roberts posted a photo of himself and his friends at Game 4 at Barclays Center on social media. They were as upset about the Liberty loss as they would be about a Mets or Jets defeat in a big game.

Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman was the WNBA’s first commissioner. She was one o f the many sports notables who attended the annual Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis annual dinner in Manhattan, which was held last Monday.

PLAXALL.COM

The 2023 Liberty team had the most talented roster in their history. Breanna Stewart was this year’s WNBA MVP and will return in 2024, as will fellow stars Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot. The only Liberty star who will be a free agent is 3-point sharpshooter Jonquel Jones. There is no reason the Liberty should not be contenders for that elusive WNBA championship

When I asked if she was rooting for the Liberty, she did not hesitate. “Yes! The Liberty is an original franchise, and it would be great for the league if they won the championship. Joe Tsai has done a fantastic job as a team owner.”

Ackerman is cautiously upbeat about the St. John’s University Red Storm men’s basketball team, which is now coached by Rick Pitino. “Their fans should be excited but should also have realistic expectations this year.” Q

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