Becky Hammon Looks Back on New York Liberty as They Face Las Vegas Aces in WNBA Finals

Oct 6, 2023, 10:30 AM ET | ESPN.com | 6 Minute Read

Las Vegas, NV – Becky Hammon’s tenure with the New York Liberty came to an end on April 4, 2007, when she was traded to the San Antonio team. Although she moved on to great success as a player and coach, her connection with the Liberty remained. Hammon often kept an eye on the team’s performance and wondered if they would ever win a championship.

In an interview with ESPN, Hammon, now the coach of the Las Vegas Aces, expressed her support for the Liberty while also acknowledging the challenge of competing against them. She commented, “I’ve always believed that it’s good for the league when New York does well. But now, I have to try to beat them. Still, it’s great to see the franchise back on top.”

The New York Liberty, for the first time since 2002, have made it to the WNBA Finals. This represents a significant achievement for the last original active franchise to have never won a league title. While the current players may not feel the weight of this history, long-time fans are ecstatic that the team is performing well again.

The Liberty will face the Las Vegas Aces, a team that relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 and won their first championship last year under Hammon’s coaching.

How Did the Aces and Liberty Reach the WNBA Finals?

The journey to the WNBA championship for both the Aces and Liberty can be attributed to improved ownership, excellent coaching hires, top draft picks, and strategic free agent signings.

These teams boast two of the best players in women’s basketball, A’ja Wilson (Aces) and Breanna Stewart (Liberty), both of whom have been named MVP twice. With the Aces and Liberty leading the league with the best records and earning the nickname “superteams,” their meeting in the finals is highly anticipated by fans.

According to Aces guard Kelsey Plum, who was the No. 1 draft pick in 2017, the team’s success came brick by brick. Plum explained, “There were years that weren’t super. Those of us who have been with the team from the beginning have seen the growth.”

Both the Aces and Liberty have experienced their fair share of struggles as franchises. In 2017, the Aces, then known as the San Antonio Stars, had the worst record in the league for three consecutive seasons. The team’s ownership decided to relocate them to Las Vegas, where they quickly found success.

Similarly, the Liberty went up for sale in 2017, but it took until January 2019 for the Brooklyn Nets owner, Joe Tsai, to step in and keep the team in the city. This marked a new era for the franchise, which had previously reached the WNBA Finals multiple times and hoped to be a flagship team for the league.

The Liberty’s decline in performance over the years was evident, with core players retiring or being traded. However, recent developments have reignited hope for the team. In the offseason, the Liberty made strategic moves in free agency, acquiring players like Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones.

On the other hand, the Aces built their team through successful draft picks, selecting Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson, and Jackie Young as consecutive No. 1 picks. Their efforts paid off with a Finals appearance in 2020.

With Bill Laimbeer as their coach, the Aces relocated to Las Vegas in 2018, and later were purchased by the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Mark Davis. The team has since embraced its history in both Utah and San Antonio, honoring former players and creating a strong connection with the community.

In January 2021, Becky Hammon, a former Liberty player, attended an Aces game where her jersey was retired. Although she had been approached by other WNBA teams, including the Liberty, about coaching positions, she found the Aces’ situation, including their commitment and personnel, to be the perfect fit for her.

The convergence of the Aces and the Liberty in the WNBA Finals presents an exciting rivalry for the league. The Liberty are determined to bring a championship back to New York City, while the Aces aim to defend their title and solidify their position as one of the league’s strongest teams.

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