While we still do not know anything about the team’s local television broadcasts, our first glimpse of the 2019 New York Liberty will occur this Thursday when the statue green and black take the court against the Chinese national team at Barclays Center.
And it will occur in front of a national audience.
The Liberty announced a few days ago that the game will air on ESPN News, meaning fans around the country will be treated to the first WNBA exhibition contest as we get closer to the regular season tipping off on May 24.
The on-court storyline of the contest will be Han Xu, the 19-year old the Liberty drafted in the second round of the WNBA draft who will don the New York colors against the team from her home country. She is already drawing comparisons to Yao Ming when he first arrived in the United States and made waves in the NBA with the Houston Rockets.
“I hope through my own experience… more Chinese kids will be inspired to love playing basketball, and be one of us.” – @nyliberty‘s Han Xu #WNBA #NBAAcademy 🏀
Watch her when the 🗽 take on the 🇨🇳 Women’s Team this Thursday, May 9 @ 7pm! For tickets: https://t.co/j2Ak7BrzHG pic.twitter.com/OPGRTtFEpz
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 6, 2019
Liberty’s teenage rookie embracing pressure of Yao Ming comparisons https://t.co/mFZXMRo7aO pic.twitter.com/cHcKUhFTBZ
— New York Post (@nypost) May 6, 2019
Everyone: Who will #HanXu rep for #NYLiberty vs Chinese Women’s National Team next week @barclayscenter?
Han Xu: 🗽 #LibertyLoud
🎟https://t.co/4zSN28sht0 pic.twitter.com/hiRKRwrqYx
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 2, 2019
Remember when Han Xu got a special message from her national team coach after being drafted by the @nyliberty? We do! We are 8 days away from the 🗽 vs. 🇨🇳 game at @barclayscenter!
Come through! 🎟️https://t.co/j2Ak7BrzHG pic.twitter.com/fi2iUseksg
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 1, 2019
The off-court story could be embedded in the wording of the Liberty’s release with the announcement that ESPNews would air the game. With the team under new ownership, the questions have shifted to where they will play after completing the 2019 season at the Westchester County Center.
And while it is not an official announcement regarding either Barclays Center or Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum, we will take this as a clue.
The first look at the 2019 New York Liberty team will come on Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, when the Liberty host the Chinese Women’s National Team, also marking the first time the Liberty will play on its new home court at the Barclays Center.
–Liberty press release
Hmmm…….
If it does turn out that the Liberty will make the move to Barclays, looks like everyone will be making the move from White Plains….including Maddie herself.
Rest easy. Our own @howardmegdal reports that @nyliberty plan to keep Maddie the Mascot. Details here #WNBA https://t.co/Wc0sQfJvp4
— High Post Hoops (@HighPostHoops) April 27, 2019
