NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts as Liberty make WNBA history with Commissioner’s Cup title originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Liberty delivered another championship moment for the city Tuesday night, and it didn’t take long for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to join the celebration.
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The Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 93-85 at Barclays Center to win the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, becoming the first franchise in league history to capture multiple Commissioner’s Cup championships. The victory added another banner to the organization’s growing collection and continued what has been a memorable stretch for basketball in New York.
Among those celebrating was Mamdani, who acknowledged the historic victory with a brief but enthusiastic message on social media as the Liberty added another title to the city’s recent sports success.
Zohran Mamdani celebrates Liberty‘s historic victory
Shortly after New York secured the Commissioner’s Cup championship, Mamdani reposted the Liberty’s celebratory message on X.
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His response was simple:
“🏀🗽”
The two-emoji post quickly became part of the online celebration surrounding the Liberty’s latest championship. The victory came just weeks after the New York Knicks ended a decades-long championship drought by winning the NBA Finals, giving New York basketball fans another reason to celebrate this summer.
Breanna Stewart earns MVP as Liberty defeat Aces
The Liberty leaned on their stars when it mattered most. Breanna Stewart put together another dominant performance, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Her all-around effort earned her Commissioner’s Cup MVP honors.
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Sabrina Ionescu was equally impressive, pouring in 26 points while adding five rebounds and five assists. Pauline Astier also played a key role off the bench, contributing 15 points, five rebounds and four assists as New York held off the Aces down the stretch.
The victory was particularly meaningful considering it came against one of the WNBA’s premier franchises. Las Vegas has become one of New York’s biggest rivals in recent seasons, making another championship win over the Aces even sweeter for the Liberty.
Liberty become first team to win multiple Commissioner’s Cups
Tuesday night’s victory secured another place in the WNBA record books. The Liberty became the first team in league history to win the Commissioner’s Cup twice.
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Their first in-season tournament championship came in 2023, when they also defeated the Aces in the title game. Jonquel Jones was named MVP that year, while Stewart claimed the honor in this year’s championship. Winning another Commissioner’s Cup reinforces New York’s standing as one of the league’s model franchises and highlights the consistency the Liberty have built over the past several seasons.
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Championship is just one goal for New York
While lifting the Commissioner’s Cup trophy was another significant accomplishment, the Liberty have their sights set on an even bigger prize. New York captured the WNBA championship in 2024 but saw its title defense end much earlier than expected last season with a first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Mercury.
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Now, the Liberty hope Tuesday’s victory provides momentum for another championship push during the second half of the regular season.
With Stewart continuing to play at an MVP level, Ionescu leading one of the league’s most explosive backcourts and the roster showing its depth throughout the Commissioner’s Cup, New York once again looks like one of the favorites to compete for the 2026 WNBA title. For one night, though, the focus was on another piece of history, and a celebration that stretched from Barclays Center all the way to New York City Hall.
