Several potential ownership groups are in "active discussions" with MSG Co. about purchasing the WNBA Liberty, according to sources cited by Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Sources said that the groups are "preparing formal bids and have agreed to non-disclosure agreements as part of the bidding process." WNBA President Lisa Borders said that the expectation is that the Liberty "will remain" in the N.Y. area after the sale. MSG Co. earlier this month announced that it "wants to sell the Liberty." There is "no specific timetable for the sale, but the company's decision to publicly announce its plans to sell the team strongly indicates that it wants a deal completed as soon as possible." If the Liberty stay in N.Y. and are "not purchased by any NBA-affiliated owner, that will increase the number of so-called independent WNBA franchises to eight of 12" (ESPN.com, 11/30). On Long Island, Rose & Barbara note it "remains unclear where the Liberty would play their home games if the franchise was to stay" in N.Y. The Liberty have played at MSG since '97 (NEWSDAY, 12/1).
