Once on the brink of collapse, the New York Liberty transformed into one of the WNBA’s premier franchises under the ownership of Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai. With a championship in hand and a growing valuation, the Liberty are well-positioned to become the league’s first billion-dollar team.
Who Owns the New York Liberty?
The WNBA approved the sale of the New York Liberty to Joe and Clara Wu on Jan. 23, 2019. Joe, co-founder of Alibaba and a 49% owner of the Brooklyn Nets at the time, purchased the Liberty from Madison Square Garden Inc. after the team had been on the market for nearly two years.
While the exact sale price was never officially disclosed, multiple reports placed it between $10 million and $14 million.
Clara Wu, an advocate for racial and economic justice, has played a key role in reshaping the franchise’s direction, facilities, and community initiatives.
New York Liberty Franchise Value in 2025
When Joe bought the team in 2019, it was considered one of the league’s less valuable franchises. That has changed.
In mid-2024, Sports Illustrated reported the Liberty were valued at over $130 million. By April 2025, Bloomberg reported the franchise had climbed to approximately $200 million.
Clara Wu has publicly stated a goal of building the first $1 billion women’s sports franchise within a decade — a bold vision that now seems increasingly realistic.
Under the Tsais, the Liberty have built a roster capable of repeat titles, expanded their corporate partnerships, and boosted attendance at Barclays Center. Joe’s net worth, according to Forbes, rose 42% year over year to $11.5 billion in 2025.
With strong backing and growing revenue, the Liberty are on track to become the WNBA’s most valuable franchise — and maybe the first to reach the billion-dollar mark.
New York Liberty Team History
The Liberty were founded in 1997 as one of the WNBA’s original eight teams. They were initially owned by Madison Square Garden Inc. and quickly became title contenders, making four WNBA Finals appearances between 1997 and 2002. However, the team failed to win a championship during that stretch.
After years of decline and a temporary move to the Westchester County Center in 2018, MSG officially began seeking a buyer in late 2017.
The sale to Tsai was finalized in early 2019. By 2020, the Liberty had relocated full-time to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, debuting a new logo and building a new roster.
High-profile acquisitions included top draft picks and trades for Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, both key parts of the Liberty’s 2024 championship team.
New York Liberty Championship History
Despite early success in the late ’90s and early 2000s, the Liberty didn’t win their first WNBA title until 2024. New York reached the WNBA Finals in 2023 but fell short against the Las Vegas Aces.
In 2024, the Liberty returned and broke through, capturing their first championship and solidifying their place among the league’s elite.
New York Liberty in 2025
The Liberty opened their 2025 campaign with a 92-78 win over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Natasha Cloud made a historic debut, posting 22 points and nine assists with steals + blocks.
Natasha Cloud vs Las Vegas:
22 PTS
6 REB
9 AST
3 STL
2 BLKThe first player in WNBA history with 20/5/5/2/2 in their debut game with a new team. pic.twitter.com/64UfUfD0FW
— StatMuse (@statmuse)
After the season opener, New York leads the Eastern Conference at 1–0, averaging 92.0 points per game. Team leaders include:
- Breanna Stewart – 25.0 PPG
- Jonquel Jones – 10.0 RPG
- Natasha Cloud – 9.0 APG
The Liberty will face Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky on May 22 at 8 p.m. ET at Wintrust Arena. Full season details are available on the 2025 Liberty schedule.
