The New York York Liberty will return to the five boroughs next season, ending a two-year period of exile in the suburbs that fans and local officials had fiercely opposed.
Starting in 2020, the WNBA team will play its home games at the Barclays Center, the franchise announced Thursday. The move comes after Joe Tsai, who also owns the Brooklyn Nets, acquired the team earlier this year from former owner James Dolan.
“We are committed to the Liberty’s long-term success in New York and relocating the team to Brooklyn will provide the franchise with tremendous opportunity,” said David Levy, the CEO of Barclays Center, in a statement. “With many of our fans based in the five boroughs, moving to Barclays Center will make the Liberty more centrally located, allowing us to bring back the original fan base and attract new supporters.
After most of two decades spent playing in Madison Square Garden, the Liberty were banished by Dolan in 2018 to a tiny gym in Westchester. Local fans were livid, and accused the MSG owners of slighting the city’s only professional women’s sports team. In a letter to Dolan, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer threatened to revoke a tax exemption that saves the arena $42 million annually.
The White Plains gym was difficult to access by public transit, and could barely seat 2,000 people, despite the fact that the Liberty regularly drew crowds of more than 10,000 at home games. The new Barclays Center will seat 8,000 people in the lower bowl, with the opportunity to expand seating.
Fans of the team said they were elated by the announcement. "Let's just say that the second I saw the news on social media, I called my Liberty reps to regain my seats," said Eva Brandon, a longtime season ticket holder who was forced to give up her tickets when the team moved. "It's really good news."
"And with the number one pick [in the draft] coming in next year, that's even more excitement to come," Brandon added. "I already know what seat I want."
The WNBA season kicks off on May 24th.
