In Super Squads, The Athletic follows the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces in their quests to win a WNBA championship. Our reporters will tell the stories of the players on two of the most star-studded teams in league history and examine how their paths shape the future of the WNBA.
As the 2023 WNBA regular season wound down and the New York Liberty prepared for the playoffs with championship hopes, several former players started a group text. When the current iteration of the franchise takes the floor for games, the former Liberty stars message each other about the on-court happenings they observe. They muse about physical screens, and evaluate the Liberty’s offensive and defensive execution. They wear Liberty gear and share selfies.
“For the first time in my life since I’ve retired, I’m just a basketball fan,” says Sue Wicks, a Liberty forward from 1997-2002 who is one of seven players in the franchise’s Ring of Honor. “To feel fanhood, is a great sensation for me.”
No longer does Wicks worry about the security of the WNBA or the stability of her former organization, which is one of only two remaining franchises from 1997 in its original city. Now, she can just enjoy New York’s success.
Like Wicks, many in the group text of more than a dozen members were…
