The party isn’t over for the WNBA championship-winning New York Liberty, which will open a state-of-the-art new practice facility in Greenpoint in 2027.
The $80 million, 75,000-square-foot facility, to be constructed in an old lightbulb factory at the edge of the Newtown Creek, will be entirely funded by the team’s owners — and was “designed by players, for players,” according to the team.
“We are a player-first organization and investing in health and wellness has always been a priority for us. The New York Liberty deserve a facility of their own: one that reflects their tremendous talent, work ethic, and ambition,” said Clara Wu Tsai, Governor of the New York Liberty, in a statement. “This facility is a sign of our commitment to the team, to the city of New York, and to the advancement of women’s sports.”
Liberty stars Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart worked alongside the facility’s design firm, Populous, to offer their own insight as top women athletes.
As a result, it will offer more than just basketball courts — though even the two practice courts are expected to be top-of-the line, with remote cameras and data tracking tech, plus video displays so players can review their film without leaving the floor.
Community basketball clinics will practice on the facility’s outdoor court, and can expect more frequent visits from the team thanks to its close proximity to their training grounds, the team said.
When the Liberty aren’t on the court, they may be working with trainers in a new two-story training room or relaxing in the recovery suite’s sauna, steam room, or hyperbaric chamber.
“One of the main things that drew me to the New York Liberty organization is the level of investment in us as athletes,” Jones said in a statement. “We just won a championship, and in the same way they expect us to level up and step up our game, our ownership group and leadership continues to raise the bar, and this facility is a perfect example of that.”
In a break from traditional stadiums and practice facilities, the Liberty’s new digs will offer a luxurious new locker room with a private suite for each member of the team. Each suite will be outfitted with a full-height wardrobe, sneaker storage, a vanity, and a seven-foot-long-daybed.
The facility will also be equipped with an in-house hair, makeup, and nail studio, ensuring players can more easily make appointments between games and practice sessions; and private family lounges with separate nursery spaces.
“The Liberty made this facility a true player-led endeavor, incorporating our insights to help us be our best, while strengthening our bond as a team and with the New York community,” Stewart said in a statement . “As a mom, I’m especially grateful for the family rooms — it means everything to know my family is cared for while I stay locked in on my craft.”
Most of the player spaces will be housed in a to-be-constructed 40,000-square-foot extension, while other amenities — offices, a media workroom, and broadcast studio — will sit in the original factory building, with its original exposed brick and wood beams expected to be preserved.
Fans will be included, too, as the team plans to build an “immersive experience” with hospitality and retail storefront for their supporters.
The New York Liberty have amassed massive support since they moved to Brooklyn in 2019, and attendance at their home games at Barclays Center was up 64% last season — which ended with a historic championship win and citywide celebrations.
“The New York Liberty strive to be the standard on and off the court and this facility will be a game changer as we continue our relentless pursuit of excellence,” said the team’s general manager, Jonathan Kolb, in a statement. “A key part of this process has been the active involvement of our players in creating a year-round home for themselves and their families, and the collaborative effort to redefine the standard of player care and experience.”
