With Hurricane Henri bearing down on the New York metropolitan area, the New York Liberty have elected to play Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks without fans.
“Fans who purchased tickets to tomorrow’s game will receive a ticket to a future 2021 regular season game or be issued a refund within 7-10 business days,” the Liberty announced in a release Saturday evening. “Please email tickets@nyliberty.com for more information.”
The decision to play without fans means a delay in the honoring of Liberty icon Crystal Robinson, who was to receive her place in the franchise’s Ring of Honor on Sunday. Robinson is the seventh player in New York history to earn that honor, following Becky Hammon, Kym Hampton, Vickie Johnson, Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Sue Wicks.
The Liberty announced in a separate release that the game will be played without live media as well, with interviews taking place virtually.
The game will still be played at 2 PM ET, and televised on both the YES Network and ESPN3.
For the Sparks, the game is a chance to build on their recent success at home. It is, however, a game that will not allow Liberty fans to welcome longtime New York center Amanda Zahui B. back to the city. Zahui B. left New York and signed with the Sparks this past winter as a free agent.
“We’re definitely going to have to take this grit on the road,” Sparks guard Kristi Toliver said. “It’s never easy but we know we have a long trip ahead. We’re going to keep that one game a time mentality and take it from there.”
That game, at least Sunday, will take place without the added burden of a road arena cheering against them.
