The New York Liberty will open the WNBA’s 30th season in throwback uniforms when they host the Connecticut Sun on opening night at Barclays Center. The jerseys, unveiled Friday, bring back the original WNBA logo and crest as the Liberty join the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury in a league-wide nod to the sport’s first era.
The uniforms will also headline WNBA Court Origins Nights on June 21, Aug. 1, Aug. 9 and Sept. 22, with throwback elements planned in the arenas and on broadcasts. That means New York at Los Angeles on June 21, New York at Phoenix on Aug. 1, Las Vegas at New York on Aug. 9 and Los Angeles at Las Vegas on Sept. 22.
For the Liberty, the release is tied to a season that the team is treating as both celebration and statement. Keia Clarke said the uniform is “a tribute to the moments and people that built this franchise and a reflection of the momentum that continues to drive us forward.” She added that the team is proud to have helped shape the trajectory of women’s basketball and said the look connects the franchise’s beginnings to its future.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton did not hide her enthusiasm. “They’re amazing,” she said of the jerseys, adding that she loves the return to those colors for some games and promising fans, “You’re in for a treat, I’ll say that.” The Liberty will also debut a distinct court this season, while the Sparks and Mercury are introducing new court designs of their own.
The throwback push is broadest in Phoenix, where the Mercury showed the retro watermelon-colorway uniform to some of their iconic players and coaches ahead of the release. Cheryl Miller, who coached the Mercury from 1997 to 2000, called the uniforms “sensational,” and Diana Taurasi said she was excited to see a vintage uniform that looked authentic. The Mercury began in 1997 as one of the WNBA’s inaugural franchises, as did the Liberty and Sparks, the three original teams still playing in their home cities.
Fans will have to wait a bit before buying the look. The new jerseys and accompanying apparel go on sale May 21, nearly two weeks into the season. Wilson has also released a special edition basketball to mark the anniversary, with the retro game ball priced at $124.95 on the company’s website. For a league celebrating 30 seasons, the throwback rollout is built to do more than look back: it puts the WNBA’s origins back on the floor, where the next generation will see them.
