The New York Liberty enter the 2026 WNBA season as the reigning champions and one of the most valuable teams in womens sports.
The team is owned by Joe Tsai, the billionaire cofounder of Alibaba Group, and his wife Clara Wu Tsai.
They purchased the Liberty from the WNBA league office back in 2019.
Their ownership group, BSE Global, also controls a team many basketball fans already know very well.
Ready to see how one Brooklyn based company ended up running both an NBA franchise and a WNBA champion at the same time? Lets get into it.
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Who Owns The New York Liberty In 2026
As of 2026, the New York Liberty are owned by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai through their sports holding company BSE Global, which stands for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment.
Joe Tsai made his fortune as a cofounder of the Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba Group, where he still serves as chairman.
Clara Wu Tsai is an entrepreneur and philanthropist in her own right, and she serves as the governor of the Liberty within the WNBA.
According to Wikipedia, the Tsais bought the Liberty directly from the WNBA league office rather than from a previous private owner, since the league itself had taken control of the franchise years earlier.
New York Liberty Quick Facts
| Team | New York Liberty |
| Current Owner | Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai |
| Purchase Price | Roughly 10 to 14 million dollars in 2019 |
| Valuation | About 600 million dollars in 2026 per Forbes |
| Founded | 1997 |
| League | WNBA |
| Arena | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| Championships | 1 title, won in 2024 |
How Joe Tsai And Clara Wu Tsai Bought The New York Liberty
Before 2019, the Liberty were not owned by a private individual at all.
The Madison Square Garden Company had run the team since 2010, but eventually handed the franchise back to the WNBA league office when it decided to step away from operating it.
In January 2019, the WNBA announced that Joe Tsai would purchase the team, becoming its first individual owner in years.
Reports at the time, including coverage from NetsDaily, suggested Tsai paid somewhere in the low eight figures, likely between 10 million and 14 million dollars, a price that looks tiny compared to the valuation the team commands today.
Tsai already owned the Brooklyn Nets at the time, so adding the Liberty allowed him to combine both franchises under a single sports and entertainment umbrella.
Inside The BSE Global Ownership Structure
BSE Global is the parent company that sits above both of the Tsai family sports teams.
Chairman, BSE Global and Alibaba cofounder
Governor, New York Liberty
NBA franchise
WNBA franchise
Joe Tsai typically handles governor duties for the Nets, while Clara Wu Tsai is the listed governor for the Liberty within the WNBA Board of Governors.
New York Liberty Ownership Timeline
The Liberty join the WNBA as one of the original eight franchises, owned at first by Cablevision.
The Madison Square Garden Company assumes ownership of the team.
Joe Tsai buys the Liberty directly from the WNBA league office in January.
The Liberty settle into Barclays Center in Brooklyn as their full time arena.
The Tsais sell a slice of BSE Global sports holdings, valuing the Liberty near 250 million dollars.
The Liberty win their first WNBA title, beating the Minnesota Lynx.
Forbes values the Liberty at roughly 600 million dollars, making it one of the top teams in the league.
What Is The New York Liberty Worth In 2026
The New York Liberty have become one of the fastest growing franchises in professional sports.
In 2025, the Tsais sold a limited partnership stake in the team at a valuation of roughly 450 million dollars, a figure that set a new record for a womens sports franchise at the time.
By 2026, Forbes put the Liberty at about 600 million dollars, ranking the team second in the WNBA behind only the Golden State Valkyries.
That is roughly fifty times what Tsai originally paid for the franchise back in 2019, a return that few sports investments anywhere can match.
Is Joe Tsai A Good Owner: Is The New York Liberty Ownership Really Worth It
Fans and analysts generally view Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai as one of the strongest ownership groups in the WNBA, though the record is not perfect.
On the positive side, the Tsais have poured real money into the roster, coaching staff, and practice facilities, and the results show on the court with the franchise first WNBA championship in 2024.
Clara Wu Tsai has also been recognized by Forbes among the most powerful women in sports for her direct involvement in team strategy rather than acting as a silent investor.
On the negative side, critics point out that as billionaires connected to Alibaba, a company that has faced regulatory scrutiny in China, the Tsais family wealth and business dealings sometimes draw outside attention that has little to do with basketball.
Some fans have also questioned ticket prices and arena access at Barclays Center as the team demand has grown, arguing that success on the court has made the games harder to afford.
On balance, most coverage from outlets like ESPN and ny basketball media describes the ownership as engaged, well funded, and genuinely committed to winning, which is exactly what most fans want from an owner.
How The Brooklyn Nets And New York Liberty Share The Same Owner
One detail that surprises a lot of casual fans is that the Liberty and the Nets share an owner, an arena, and a front office structure.
Both teams play out of Barclays Center, and both fall under the BSE Global umbrella, which handles business operations, sponsorships, and arena management for the entire portfolio.
If you want the full picture of how another major American league structures ownership, take a look at our guide on who owns the NFL for comparison.
What The Tsai Divorce Means For New York Liberty Ownership
In 2026, reports confirmed that Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai are divorcing after many years of marriage.
According to a joint statement covered by sports business reporters, the couple said the divorce will not change control of either team.
Joe Tsai will remain governor of the Nets, and Clara Wu Tsai will remain governor of the Liberty, with professional management continuing to run day to day operations as it always has.
According to ESPN, the franchise valuation has kept climbing throughout this period, suggesting the transition has not slowed business momentum for the team.
Are The New York Liberty For Sale In 2026
No, the New York Liberty are not for sale as a whole franchise in 2026.
Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai have reaffirmed their commitment to owning and operating the team even amid their personal divorce.
What the Tsais have done is sell small minority stakes in BSE Global to outside investors, most notably the deal in 2025 that valued the team near 450 million dollars.
Selling a minority slice is common among wealthy sports owners looking to raise cash while keeping full control, and it does not signal that the majority owners plan to exit anytime soon.
For comparison, plenty of major sports organizations follow a similar governance model, including global bodies like FIFA, where central ownership stays fixed even as individual stakeholders change.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Liberty Ownership
Who Is The Owner Of The New York Liberty
The New York Liberty are owned by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai through their company BSE Global, which they have controlled since purchasing the team from the WNBA league office in 2019.
Who Is Joe Tsai
Joe Tsai is a Taiwanese Canadian businessman who cofounded the Chinese ecommerce company Alibaba Group alongside Jack Ma, and he now serves as its chairman while also owning the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.
What Is Joe Tsais Net Worth
Joe Tsai net worth is estimated in the multiple billions of dollars by Forbes, driven mainly by his Alibaba shares, alongside his stakes in the Nets, the Liberty, and other business ventures.
New York Liberty Ownership History Who Owned The Team Before Joe Tsai
Before Joe Tsai, the Liberty were owned first by Cablevision starting in 1997, then by the Madison Square Garden Company from 2010 until the WNBA league office took the team back and sold it to Tsai in 2019.
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