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NEW YORK — The New York Liberty have finally clinched their inaugural WNBA championship, succeeding after experiencing heartbreak in the title round during their previous five attempts.
Since the league’s inception in 1997, the Liberty has been a foundational team, participating in formats varying from single-game to best-of-three and best-of-five series. Their journey to the 2023 championship was particularly intense, necessitating five games and even an overtime victory against Minnesota.
A brief overview of their prior championship showdowns is as follows:
**1997 – Lost to Houston in a single game**
In their debut final, New York faced off against the formidable Houston team led by league MVP Cynthia Cooper. The Liberty struggled to contain Cooper, who managed to score 14 out of her total 25 points in the second half. Houston seized control of the game with a decisive 10-0 run, ultimately winning 65-51. Kym Hampton led the Liberty’s effort with 13 points and 13 rebounds but fell short on that historical night.
**1999 – Lost to Houston in three games**
The 1999 Finals showcased a more competitive spirit as New York pushed Houston to a three-game series. After an initial loss at home, the Liberty managed an incredible turnaround to tie the series when Teresa Weatherspoon made a buzzer-beater shot. Unfortunately, New York could not sustain this momentum and suffered a 12-point loss in the final game less than a day later.
**2000 – Lost to Houston in two games**
In what was the Liberty’s third consecutive Championship meeting with the Comets, the result remained unfavorable. After trailing at halftime, New York put forth a valiant effort but couldn’t secure the win in either game. A heartbreaking Game 2 loss came when, despite leading in the closing seconds of regulation, they were unable to hold their ground in overtime, with Houston ultimately claiming the title.
**2002 – Lost to Los Angeles in two games**
The championship clash against Los Angeles was another tough series for the Liberty. Despite a commendable performance from Becky Hammon in Game 1, New York couldn’t secure a victory. The team found themselves in a precarious position with Game 2 tied in the final seconds until Nikki Teasley hit a go-ahead three-pointer. Weatherspoon’s attempt for a dramatic finish was thwarted, ending their chance at the title
**2023 – Lost to Las Vegas in four games**
The past season set the groundwork for the Liberty’s championship bid. A rocky start saw them drop the first two games against Las Vegas, but they bounced back convincingly at home in Game 3. Despite recovering some momentum when critical players from Las Vegas were injured, New York could not complete the comeback in a closely contested Game 4.
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