The New York Liberty have just announced plans to build a 75,000 square foot training facility, and it’s worth noting that this news comes right after the Indiana Fever also announced plans to build a new training facility. This raises suspicions that the Liberty are looking to directly compete with the Fever not only on the court but also in external factors such as infrastructure and media.
There’s no denying that the New York Liberty are targeting the Indiana Fever in many ways. From the way they’ve built their roster this season to the way they’ve presented themselves in the media, it all suggests a well-thought-out strategy to establish a strong foothold in the WNBA.
More notably, on ESPN recently, an expert opined that the Liberty deserve to have as many games broadcast as the Indiana Fever. Putting the events together, it seems like there’s a plan to limit the Fever’s dominance in the coming years. Not only does it affect this season, but it could also impact future seasons, preventing the Fever from reaching many championships in the future.
However, the host himself also affirmed that he is not against women’s teams investing in facilities and taking advantage of the current strong development wave of the WNBA. However, these consecutive events make him feel that something is “abnormal” and he is ready to speak up if he feels that the Indiana Fever is being suppressed in any way.
—
In addition, in recent days, player Sophie Cunningham has also made some notable statements about the Indiana Fever and rookie Caitlin Clark. When asked about Clark, Cunningham did not hesitate to call her “baby GOAT” (an outstanding young talent, considered the successor of the legends). She believes that Clark has a strong mindset and winning spirit, but still needs guidance from seniors in the league to be able to develop more comprehensively.
Cunningham emphasized that the WNBA is not only a playground for individual skills, but also a place that requires the combination of players, team cohesion and real-life experience. She believes that the current Indiana Fever has all the necessary elements to become a championship team.
Their squad is a combination of young players with potential and those with experience in the WNBA. However, she also admitted that the most important thing right now is to build connections between players and create a truly strong team in terms of both expertise and team spirit.
—
In addition, Cunningham also mentioned the strong development of the WNBA in recent times, especially the exploitation of confrontations from the college level to the professional level. She noted that the high-profile rivalries like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which have been a huge draw since the NCAA era, are continuing to generate a lot of interest now that both have made it to the WNBA. According to Cunningham, this is a step in the right direction for the league, helping to attract more viewers and expand the WNBA’s influence globally.
She also emphasized that not only is the league growing, but even major brands are starting to pay more attention to the WNBA. Companies are gradually realizing the potential of female athletes and wanting to partner to take the league to the next level.
At the end of her speech, Cunningham affirmed that the biggest goal for her and the Indiana Fever this season is to bring the championship back to Indiana after more than a decade of waiting. But to do that, the whole team must focus on building their style of play, connecting with each other and playing with real discipline.
—
So what do you think about the above comments? Are the New York Liberty really trying to “squeeze” the Indiana Fever? And do the Fever have what it takes to win the championship this season? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
