The WNBA's landscape shifted dramatically this preseason as the New York Liberty, a newly minted superteam, rolled into Mohegan Sun Arena for their final tune-up before the regular season. With a star-studded roster, a fresh NBA-bred coach, and the unmistakable aura of a dynasty in the making, the Liberty are turning heads—and perhaps winning hearts—in an unexpected place.
This game wasn't just any preseason matchup. For the Liberty, it was a dress rehearsal for championship aspirations. For the Connecticut Sun, it marked the beginning of a bittersweet farewell tour. The Sun, a beloved franchise with deep roots in the state, are set to relocate to Houston after this season, leaving a passionate fanbase without a local WNBA team. As the Sun's summer-long goodbye unfolds, a critical question emerges: where will Connecticut's devoted women's basketball fans turn?
The answer, it seems, is the Liberty bandwagon—and it's ready for boarding.
"I hope they adopt us," said Breanna Stewart, a UConn legend and two-time WNBA MVP, now anchoring New York's frontcourt. "Knowing how much of a basketball state Connecticut is, from UConn to watching those players here at Mohegan, it's bittersweet. But listen, we'll take more Liberty fans. Why not?"
The Liberty and the Sun have shared a fierce rivalry over the years, both consistently vying for championships but falling short until New York finally broke through, outlasting the Minnesota Lynx in 2024. The Liberty's transformation began in 2019 when owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai purchased the team, moved it from Westchester to Brooklyn, and set about building a powerhouse. They drafted Sabrina Ionescu, added Stewart, acquired Jonquel Jones—a former MVP during her Sun days—and most recently brought in Satou Sabally to fortify their title run in 2026. After a playoff loss to Phoenix last season, the Liberty replaced coach Sandy Brondello with Chris DeMarco, a longtime NBA assistant with the Golden State Warriors.
"What it's going to look like is pretty analytical," Stewart explained. "There's going to be a reason for everything we're doing—what works in the NBA and what he sees working in The W."
As the Liberty open the regular season against the Sun in Brooklyn on Friday, the contrast is stark. New York enters as the betting favorite to win the title (+220 on ESPN), while Connecticut, facing an uncertain future, sits as the longest longshot (+50000). For fans in Connecticut, the Liberty offer a seamless transition: a nearby team with UConn ties, championship pedigree, and a style of play that's as analytical as it is exciting. The bandwagon has never looked more inviting.