The WNBA rightfully fined the New York Liberty for ducking the media after Finals loss
Losing sucks, but the New York Liberty have to be better.
After the Las Vegas Aces won another title, this time on New York’s home court, the air went out of the building. The Liberty lost at the highest possible levels — the WNBA Finals — and the last thing they likely wanted to do was answer questions about how and why they lost.
It’s painful. It’s ugly. Frankly, it’s gut-wrenching. But it’s the right thing to do. In victory or defeat, you must be accountable and responsible for the product you put on the court.
Those obligations were broken by the Liberty, prompting action from the league for ducking the smoke they created.
The New York Liberty organization has been fined $25,000 for violating league rules governing postgame media interview access, the WNBA announced today. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/suOAoaRPuI
— The Real Terrika (@SheKnowsSports) October 19, 2023
Pouring salt in an already festering wound is a new $25,000 fine the Liberty will pay for violating media availability rules. Whew.
Per ESPN’s Terrika Foster Brasby, the league took exception to only head coach Sandy Brondello, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot making appearances post-game.
Via the WNBA’s social media accounts, fans could see a visibly missing Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Betnijah Laney for New York’s portion of the presser. Those actions came with a $2,000 fine for each missing player. Ouch.
It would have been pretty wild, but the Liberty could have pulled a Marshawn Lynch for any questions they didn’t want to answer — “I’m just here so I won’t get fined — and gone about their evening.
But, altogether, avoiding answering questions does not send a good message to anyone who sees them as role models or as a reflection of upper-echelon athletes.
Pull it together, New York!