An Appreciation at Barclays

Leading the ‘Break

🏀 with Andy Lipton

My Favorite Celebrity at Barclays Sunday Night

Yes, Barclays was brimming with celebs Sunday night from the entertainment industry (including sports) that added to the excitement of a do or die game for the New York Liberty.

A number of former New York Liberty players were there to lend support.  

And the Liberty did not disappoint.  

They made a stand, defeating the Las Vegas Aces and showing why they are legitimate contenders for a WNBA Championship.

The creator of the most iconic moment in Liberty and perhaps WNBA history was there, the newly hired Chicago Sky Coach, Teresa Weatherspoon.

  Spoon hit a shot from beyond half-court as time ran out to win Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals against the Houston Comets in Texas. 

And the leader of that team Coach Richie Adubato was in the house Sunday, too.

Under Coach Adubato, the New York Liberty won the Eastern Conference Title three times, making it to the WNBA Finals three out of his first four seasons with them in 1999, 2000, and 2002.

Before this season, 2002 was the last time the Liberty had made it to the WNBA Finals.

Current Atlanta Dream Assistant Coach Vickie Johnson was in the house. 

She played for Coach Adubato during his entire tenure in New York. 

Johnson loved playing for Adubato.  She credited him with teaching her a great deal.

She said he treated the team as professional basketball players, not women.

 He had the players extremely well prepared as he was very detailed and organized.

Sue Wicks, another former New York Liberty player - also in the house.  She was quoted in the NY Post in 2000 saying Adubato was a very good coach, citing his ability to make adjustments mid-stream.

Former Liberty players who played under Adubato, Crystal Robinson and Mactabene Amachree - well you guessed it - in the house also here.

And lest I forget, something of which Coach Adubato is very proud.

 Coach Adubato brought in the undrafted Becky Hammon out of Colorado State University for a tryout with the Liberty in 1999.  She made the team and the rest is history. 

You may have noticed Coach Hammon was also at Barclays Sunday - patrolling the sidelines as she coached her defending WNBA champions the Las Vegas Aces.