RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Liberty Legends
Brandon Todd/New York Liberty
Anniversaries carry a lot of weight. They feed into that buzzy voice that tells us we must commemorate the moment, and if we don’t, we’re somehow failing to appreciate the legacy for what it iso matter how big or small the number. And yet, I found myself inside Barclays Center for what felt like the 15th time since the start of the WNBA season, there to do exactly that: commemorate 30 years of the WNBA and the New York Liberty’s legacy.
So much has changed since the league’s beginnings. For one, the WNBA has gained major visibility within the world of women’s sports. Players have signed multimillion-dollar contracts and, perhaps more importantly, have become brands and personalities of their own, existing far beyond the game itself.
On August 9, 2026, inside the industrial-like tunnel of Barclays Center, the Liberty commemorated 30 years of their legacy by inviting former players to walk the tunnel and, for the first time, experience a ritual that has become synonymous with the modern WNBA while also being honored during a halftime special.
The tunnel has become a spectacle of its own—a small breather, a moment of pageantry and personality before players step onto the court and start dribbling. But for many Liberty players from the last 20 years, that moment never existed. Until now.
“The evolution of women’s sports has been big for everyone. It’s been big forever, and you can only see the growth from it, especially when advocating for women’s sports,” says Teresa Weatherspoon, who pulled up to the tunnel in a purple blazer, Liberty GLD necklace and basketball-themed nails. “I’m just wearing me,” she adds.
Kym Hampton, the first-ever center for the New York Liberty, arrived fully decked out in a custom rework of the ’90s New York Liberty jersey by Loral Yee With a blinged-out basketball bag and a jersey dress covered in jewels and sequins, she found herself thinking back to what could have been if the tunnel had existed during her playing days.
Kym Hampton – New York Liberty 1997-1998
Kym Hampton
BRANDON TODD/NEW YORK LIBERTY
“I would’ve been wearing something. I was slim then—I would’ve put some energy into it,” she says. When asked about today’s basketball style icons, she compares her own style most closely to A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese.
“I think the evolution of women’s sports has been awesome. It’s amazing that the New York Liberty still exists. So for us, we just want ownership that cares about us—sees us, cares about us and sees the players,” Hampton says.
Vickie Johnson, Trena Trice-Hill – New York Liberty 1997–2005
Vickie Johnson, Trena Trice-Hill
BRANDON TODD/NEW YORK LIBERTY
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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