Take a tour inside the swanky team facilities that have made the New York Liberty the class of the WNBA

Meredith CashDec 29, 2022, 23:05 IST

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

After 20-plus years calling Madison Square Garden home, the New York Liberty moved into the Barclays Center at the start of the 2021 WNBA season.
Joe Tsai — the Alibaba executive and Brooklyn Nets owner who purchased the Liberty from James Dolan in 2019 — invested heavily in brand-new facilities fit for a team of professional basketball stars.
Today, Liberty players have access to a sparkling new locker room, a treatment room, hot tubs, a private practice court, and a lounge stocked with flat-screen TVs, couches, and snacks.

After more than 20 years playing at Madison Square Garden, the WNBA's New York Liberty moved on to their new arena at the Barclays Center.

The exterior of Brooklyn's Barclays Center.AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

Joe Tsai — the Alibaba executive and Brooklyn Nets owner — purchased the Liberty from James Dolan in 2019.

Team owner Joe Tsai high fives New York Liberty players.AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

Two years later, the Liberty — one of the few remaining original WNBA franchises —tipped off in Brooklyn for the very first time.

The court at the Barclays Center.Steven Ryan/Getty Images

Tsai invested heavily in private facilities for the team to make the Barclays Center feel like home.

Meredith Cash/Insider

The walls are covered in iconography meant to motivate the Liberty.

Meredith Cash/Insider

And that includes an homage to the franchise's greats.

Meredith Cash/Insider

But the team's new digs weren't designed solely with business in mind — there are lounges where players can relax, grab a snack, and spend time together.

Meredith Cash/Insider

And there's a kitchen area stocked with everything an athlete might need.

Meredith Cash/Insider

Training sessions on the franchise's private practice court often end with smoothies for players and coaches.

Meredith Cash/Insider

If players get injured, they can work on recovery and rehab in a separate treatment room.

Meredith Cash/Insider

And for those who are merely sore, team-branded tubs are available for soaking and — ideally — alleviating pain.

Meredith Cash/Insider

But the crown jewel of the Liberty's swanky facility is the locker room...

Meredith Cash/Insider

...which is adorned with a glowing team logo on the ceiling.

Meredith Cash/Insider

Each player's locker is matched with a corresponding chair and offers plenty of space for their belongings.

Meredith Cash/Insider

Even for those who have extensive sneaker collections, like star point guard Sabrina Ionescu.

Meredith Cash/Insider

There's plenty of space for players to stretch out, hold team meetings, or decompress before or after games.

Meredith Cash/Insider

It was a perfectly sufficient spot for the team to celebrate clinching a spot in the playoffs during the 2022 season.

Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images

And even though the Liberty weren't able to pull off the upset against Candace Parker and the reigning champion Chicago Sky in a decisive Game 3 hosted in New York...

Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images

... the franchise has undoubtedly "taken a step in the right direction" on and off the court, according to guard Rebecca Allen (right), who played for the franchise from 2015 to 2019 and again starting in 2021.

Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images

... the franchise has undoubtedly "taken a step in the right direction" on and off the court, according to guard Rebecca Allen (right), who played for the franchise from 2015 to 2019 and again starting in 2021.

And who knows? With a sparkling new home and a young roster filled with promise, perhaps the Liberty can woo a marquee free agent to help the team contend for their first-ever WNBA title:

Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

And who knows? With a sparkling new home and a young roster filled with promise, perhaps the Liberty can woo a marquee free agent to help the team contend for their first-ever WNBA title:

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Take a tour inside the swanky team facilities that have made the New York Liberty the class of the WNBA

After more than 20 years playing at Madison Square Garden, the WNBA's New York Liberty moved on to their new arena at the Barclays Center.

Joe Tsai — the Alibaba executive and Brooklyn Nets owner — purchased the Liberty from James Dolan in 2019.

Two years later, the Liberty — one of the few remaining original WNBA franchises —tipped off in Brooklyn for the very first time.

Tsai invested heavily in private facilities for the team to make the Barclays Center feel like home.

The walls are covered in iconography meant to motivate the Liberty.

And that includes an homage to the franchise's greats.

But the team's new digs weren't designed solely with business in mind — there are lounges where players can relax, grab a snack, and spend time together.

And there's a kitchen area stocked with everything an athlete might need.

Training sessions on the franchise's private practice court often end with smoothies for players and coaches.

If players get injured, they can work on recovery and rehab in a separate treatment room.

And for those who are merely sore, team-branded tubs are available for soaking and — ideally — alleviating pain.

But the crown jewel of the Liberty's swanky facility is the locker room...

...which is adorned with a glowing team logo on the ceiling.

Each player's locker is matched with a corresponding chair and offers plenty of space for their belongings.

Even for those who have extensive sneaker collections, like star point guard Sabrina Ionescu.

There's plenty of space for players to stretch out, hold team meetings, or decompress before or after games.

It was a perfectly sufficient spot for the team to celebrate clinching a spot in the playoffs during the 2022 season.

And even though the Liberty weren't able to pull off the upset against Candace Parker and the reigning champion Chicago Sky in a decisive Game 3 hosted in New York...

... the franchise has undoubtedly "taken a step in the right direction" on and off the court, according to guard Rebecca Allen (right), who played for the franchise from 2015 to 2019 and again starting in 2021.

And who knows? With a sparkling new home and a young roster filled with promise, perhaps the Liberty can woo a marquee free agent to help the team contend for their first-ever WNBA title: