Liberty switch mascots as marketing of Brooklyn move accelerates

Since 1997, the Liberty mascot was a lovable dog named “Maddie” after Madison Square Garden, both the team’s home and corporate owner. Every season, one Liberty game was dedicated to this loveable dog … “Maddie Day!”

Well, the Liberty hasn’t played at the Garden in three years, having been exiled to Westchester County Center by James Dolan in 2018 and 2019, then forced by the pandemic to play in the WNBA “wubble” last season. Now, the team is getting ready to debut in Brooklyn at Barclays Center.

And, of course, the Garden no longer owns the Liberty. Joe Tsai bought it in early 2019 and it’s now part of Tsai’s BS&E, also the parent of the Nets, Barclays Center and the G League and NBA2k teams.

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