By Tiffany Williams –
The New York Liberty are opening their historic 30th season Friday night at Barclays Center carrying the weight of their past, the expectations of a championship-caliber roster, and the reality that the Connecticut Sun already showed them this preseason they are not going to cruise through anybody.
But make no mistake — this opener is being treated like a full-scale New York basketball event.
The Liberty are stepping into the season with the franchise celebrating three decades of existence as one of the WNBA’s original organizations, and Barclays Center is turning the opener into a massive production built around the team’s history, culture, and growing dominance inside New York sports.
Kym Hampton will perform the National Anthem before tipoff. The franchise will debut its official 2026 season opening video honoring the Liberty’s history dating back to 1997. Fans entering Barclays Center will receive rally towels inspired by the newly unveiled Nike WNBA “Court Origins” Edition uniforms, a modern redesign connected directly to the original Liberty look from the league’s inaugural season.
The organization is also unveiling a custom court inspired by the original 1997 design, complete with classic hardwood styling and the iconic Lady Liberty logo that helped define the franchise during the early years of the WNBA.
And honestly, the Liberty are leaning into this celebration because they know exactly what they have become.
This is no longer just a respected original franchise trying to stay relevant.
This is now one of the centerpieces of women’s basketball.
The Liberty enter the season after another offseason loaded with star power, stability, and expectations. New York added three-time All-Star Satou Sabally, re-signed Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu to multi-year contracts, and hired four-time NBA Champion Chris DeMarco as the franchise’s 10th head coach.
The message is obvious:
This team is trying to win now.
And the opener against Connecticut immediately gives fans a rematch of the Liberty’s final preseason game, a 79-67 victory Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena that exposed both the strengths and flaws of these teams heading into the regular season.
The final score looked comfortable.
The actual game was much messier.
Connecticut physically controlled portions of that matchup, especially inside.
Brittney Griner looked dominant for stretches, finishing with 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting while knocking down both of her three-point attempts. Aneesah Morrow added eight points and eight rebounds, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa quietly gave the Sun efficient production with nine points on 4-for-7 shooting.
The Sun outscored New York 40-26 in the paint.
That matters.
Connecticut also shot better overall from the field, finishing at 40.9 percent compared to New York’s 36.9 percent. But the Liberty completely controlled the areas that actually decided the game.
Discipline.
Depth.
Execution.
New York went a perfect 22-for-22 from the free throw line while Connecticut attempted only nine free throws the entire game. That difference completely changed the math of the matchup.
And then came the Liberty bench.
Anneli Maley delivered 13 points and six rebounds off the bench with perfect 6-for-6 free throw shooting. Pauline Astier added 12 points and four assists while completely changing the pace of the game whenever she touched the floor. Marine Johannes added 12 points, four assists and four made threes while once again looking like one of the most dangerous perimeter shooters in the WNBA.
That depth overwhelmed Connecticut late.
Every time the Sun tried to push momentum back in their direction, New York answered with another clean possession, another free throw trip, another perimeter shot, or another defensive stop.
And even though Sabrina Ionescu scored only six points in the preseason meeting, history says Connecticut remains one of her favorite opponents.
Last season, Sabrina Ionescu averaged 22.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in four games against the Sun while shooting 55.6 percent from the field — her best field-goal percentage against any opponent during the 2025 season.
She also dropped 36 points against Connecticut on August 3, the highest-scoring performance by a Liberty player against the Sun in franchise history.
Meanwhile, Jonquel Jones continues carrying the emotional connection tied directly to this rivalry.
Before becoming a Liberty centerpiece, Jonquel Jones spent the first six seasons of her career with Connecticut, where she became the first player in WNBA history to win MVP, Sixth Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.
Now she enters this opener after posting 15 points and five rebounds against her former team Sunday, including three made three-pointers that stretched Connecticut’s defense repeatedly.
For Connecticut, Friday night also marks the official start of what the organization is calling the “Sunset Season.”
The Sun enter 2026 trying to prove they still belong among the WNBA’s top contenders despite roster transitions, overseas absences, and growing questions about consistency.
Leïla Lacan and Nell Angloma both remained unavailable during the preseason matchup due to overseas obligations, while injuries and roster limitations already forced Connecticut into shortened rotations before opening night even arrived.
Still, the Sun nearly beat New York Sunday despite committing 16 turnovers and losing the free throw battle by 15 points.
That is why this opener feels dangerous for the Liberty despite all the celebration surrounding the night.
Connecticut already showed it can physically pressure New York inside.
Brittney Griner already showed she can dominate stretches of the game.
Aneesah Morrow already showed she can battle on the glass.
But the Liberty also showed exactly why they are viewed as one of the WNBA’s most dangerous teams entering this season.
They survive mistakes.
They adjust quickly.
And they bury teams with depth.
Now the 30th season begins Friday night in Brooklyn with a sold-out crowd, a franchise-wide celebration, and enormous expectations attached to a Liberty team trying to turn history into another championship run.