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The main reason for our recent 3-night getaway to New York City was because my 14-year-old daughter Savannah is a die-hard WNBA fan. And when the New York Liberty schedule lined up with a game versus the Dallas Wings, we had to make happen.
She picked the NY vs. Dallas game because her idol is Paige Bueckers from Uconn, who now plays for Dallas. New York is a lot closer to Raleigh than Dallas, and obviously a way better city to visit! So, tickets secured, flights and accommodation organized, we packed our bags and headed to Brooklyn for a fun daddy and daughter getaway!
If you’ve never been to a New York Liberty game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn before, below is a guide on what you can expect, how to get there, where to stay, getting tickets, and what else we did with 3-days in NYC. We have visited NYC many times, but never for a sporting event, and combining an event with a getaway is an awesome way to travel.
About the New York Liberty
Founded in 1997, they are a member of the Eastern Conference and one of the eight original WNBA’s original franchises. They have qualified for the playoffs in 19 of its 28 years, and their current Overall Record is 509-469, and current Playoffs Record is 43-48. In 2024, New York defeated the Minnesota Lynx 3-2 in the WNBA Finals to win its first ever WNBA championship and the first in New York City professional basketball history in over 50 years – way to go, ladies!
Currently on the NY Liberty roster are big name stars such as the team’s first-ever No.1 overall draft pick, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones. And being Australians, we were excited to watch fellow Aussie, Rebecca Allen. See their full roster.
The Liberty have built one of the most passionate fan bases in the league and a young, loud, and diverse crowd with a genuine “big city” sports atmosphere. They wear the green and black colors, and in 2021 introduced their mascot, Ellie the Elephant – The NY Liberty represent culture and community, and Elephants represent strength, power, wisdom, and determination.
The Liberty are owned by Joseph Tsai, co-founder of the Alibaba Group (and majority owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets), and Clara Wu Tsai, an American businesswoman. Over the years, the Liberty have played at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, Prudential Center in Newark, Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, and Westchester County Center in White Plains. For the 2020 season, the Tsais relocated the Liberty to Brooklyn on a full-time basis.
About Barclays Center
The Liberty play at Barclays Center (Barclays is a bank out of the UK), which opened in 2012 and is a major sports and entertainment venue and has become a Brooklyn landmark in its own right. Its instantly recognizable for its weathered-steel, oculus-shaped exterior. Besides being home to the Liberty and the NBA ‘s Brooklyn Nets, it also hosts concerts, boxing, and college basketball.
Seating & Tickets
The capacity is 17,553 seats for basketball and up to 19,000 seats for concerts. The venue has one of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed into a modern multi-purpose arena, with unparalleled sightlines and first-class amenities. See seating map for Liberty games.
Getting to Barclays Center
Barclays Center is located at 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn and is easily accessible from J.F.K. International Airport and LaGuardia Airport and is adjacent to one of the largest transit hubs in New York, the Atlantic Terminal-Barclays Center Station and is served by the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, and R trains. Use the MTA Trip Planner, or I found using Google maps an easy way to navigate the subway system. From anywhere in Manhattan or Brooklyn, you’re looking at a direct or one-transfer ride, usually 20-40 minutes depending on where you start.
Other Subway stations include Lafayette Avenue Station (located on Fulton Street and South Portland Avenue) and Fulton Street Station (located on Fulton Street and Fort Greene Place).
PRO TIP: we stayed at the Tru by Hilton Hotel in Park Slope, Brooklyn, which is one of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn and our hotel was an easy 10-minute walk from Barclays Center along 5th Ave. If you’d rather base yourself in Manhattan, it’s an easy subway ride either way — most Midtown or Lower Manhattan hotels put you 20-35 minutes from the arena door to door.
Where to Stay
In Brooklyn
In Manhattan
Staying in Manhattan keeps you closer to the rest of the top NYC city attractions, with the tradeoff being a short subway ride to games. But a practical option if you’re combining this with a broader NYC sightseeing trip rather than a Brooklyn-focused one. See list of Midtown Manhattan hotels.
Buying Tickets
Tickets are available through the Liberty’s official site and Ticketmaster. Like all sports, prices vary widely by section, opponent, day of the week etc. Upper-level seats can be found relatively affordably, while lower-bowl seats near the court cost significantly more. Keep in mind that WNBA ticket demand have grown substantially, so buying earlier than you might expect is recommended, especially for a marquee matchup or a Saturday night game.
Know Before You Go
Security & Bag Policy
Barclays Center runs a strict bag policy that are limited to roughly 10″ x 6″ x 2″, which means backpacks, purses, and diaper bags larger than a small clutch aren’t allowed in (medical and diaper-bag exceptions apply, subject to search). NOTE: Guests without bags can use Express Lanes to enter the arena faster. See full prohibited list here.
Arrival Timing
For New York Liberty games, doors open 90-minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Savannah loves to watch the players warm up so we were there early. Aim to arrive 45-60 minutes before tip-off. That gives you time to clear security without a line, catch warmups, and grab merch before the popular items sell out.
Food & Beverage
No outside food or beverage items can be brought into Barclays. Exceptions are made for those with medical requirements and/or special needs (contact Guest Services by calling 917-618-6111 or by emailing [email protected] prior to attending).
Barclays Center’s Brooklyn Taste program brings authentic neighborhood staples into the arena. The diverse culinary options include Italian, Caribbean, fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, wings, BBQ, tacos, and more. Yes, they do offer gluten-free food options. Barclays Center also offers several clubs & bars for fans to enjoy. See list. NOTE: Barclays Center offers concessions locations that are cash-free!
In-Game Entertainment
The Liberty do a great job of entertaining the crowd from pre-game entertainment to during all breaks and timeouts. There was always something to look at or listen to. Ellie the Elephant and his dance crew are very talented and engaging with the crowd. And The Timeless Torches are a dynamic group of dancers representing four decades of talent, ranging in age from 40 to 89 years young.
There are fun contests, t-shirt canons, singing, you name it, they have it. And the crowd gets into it. And of course, this is NY, there is always the chance to spot celebs courtside – we had Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) and Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in attendance who were shown on the jumbotron.
Merchandise
Liberty merchandise can be purchased from the Official Team Store located on the Main Concourse: 185 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. The Official Team Store is open from 12pm-5pm daily and during all Liberty games. The team store at the arena was busy when we were there, plan accordingly. Fans can also purchase merchandise online at NYLibertyStore.com.
The Game
Savannah LOVED the game of course. In fact, she loved the whole experience and before the game was even over was plotting her next attendance! Dallas ended up winning this one 88-77 and it was competitive and entertaining throughout. Savannah’s idol, Bueckers, finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Dallas. Breanna Stewart had 29 points and nine rebounds for New York.
The woman are talented and fun to watch and really play as a team. In fact, I prefer watching them over the men in the NBA which is often a three-point shooting contest these days! NOTE: we attended the Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 game. See their schedule here.
What Else We Did in NYC
Attractions
- Went to the top of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Walked around Central Park
- Walked across Brooklyn Bridge
- Grand Central Station
- Explored Greenwich & West Village & SOHO
- Walked along 5th Ave
- Times Square
- Views of NYC from DUMBO in Brooklyn
- Washington Square Park
- Shopped at Brandy Melville
- See our full guide to New York with Teens
Eat & Drink
If you’re thinking about attending a New York Liberty game, we highly recommend it. It’s high energy and entertaining and it’s easy to get to the Barclays Center from Manhattan or base yourself in Brooklyn. We love supporting women’s sports and New York City speaks for itself as a travel destination.
