As NY Liberty named world's most valuable women's team, a new partnership with Alipay+, owned by Tsai-led Alibaba. Plus Ionescu deal (as salary supplement?)
Forbes on Dec. 17 placed BSE Global's New York Liberty at the top of its first-ever list of The World’s Most Valuable Women’s Sports Teams 2025, with a valuation of $400 million.
In May, the Liberty raised an ownership stake at record $450 million valuation, according to sources, which might means the number's a bit fuzzy.
It's worth noting that the Liberty's reported revenue was $25 million, while the second-place team, the WNBA's Indiana Fever, were valued at $370 million but reported $32 million in revenue.
So presumably the Valkyries will top the list next year.
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| Peng Yang, CEO, Ant International & Clara Wu Tsai, Vice Chair, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment; Governor, New York Liberty |
Remember how, in June, we learned the new Liberty investors included Jack Ma, Alibaba's main founder, who was aided by Liberty/Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai of BSE Global, who is now Alibaba's Chairman.
While Ant International was said to be supporting the "future of New York," it's seems unlikely the investment is aimed to bolster access to the "Asia-Pacific digital wallet community."
It seems more about brand building and reputation building.
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| Images from press releases |
(As of today, the press release doesn't appear on the BSE Global website.)
Another Alipay connection
As journalist Jackie Powell pointed out, this comes after, on Dec. 8, Liberty star "Sabrina Ionescu was named a global ambassador for Ant International, Alipay+'s parent company."
The latter might also be seen as a backdoor way to increase Ionescu's compensation in a salary-capped league. A top player and four-time All-Star, she earns about $222,000.
No dollar figure was announced here, as well.
The Liberty partnership press release, in full
The Liberty partnership press release, in full
New York Liberty and Ant International’s Alipay+ Announce Multiyear Partnership Focused on Empowerment, Sustainability and Youth Development
Ant International’s Alipay+ Named an Official Sponsor and Innovation Partner for Sustainability of the Team
The New York Liberty and Ant International’s Alipay+, a leading cross-border fintech services platform based in Singapore, today announced a multiyear partnership, making Alipay+ an Official Sponsor and Innovation Partner for Sustainability of the New York Liberty. Through this partnership, Alipay+ and the Liberty will jointly support community programs designed to advance community empowerment, environmental sustainability and youth development across New York City.
“Our partnership with Alipay+ goes beyond the game,” said Keia Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, New York Liberty. “Together, we are investing in the future of New York—its people, its environment, and its youth. Ant International’s commitment to community empowerment, sustainability and digital innovation makes them an ideal partner for our mission.”
"To us, the story of New York Liberty embodies the legendary New York spirit: one of incredible talent, passion, teamwork and perseverance,” said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. “These winning qualities echo strongly with the Alipay+ community, where young entrepreneurs and global institutions partner up to push the frontier of innovation for underserved communities and small businesses. We are honored to support the Liberty, and look forward to learning from all other Liberty partners in its sustainability and youth programs."
Alipay+ will become a key contributor to the team's community-driven initiatives on community empowerment, environmental conservation and youth development. These will include three main areas:
- Community Empowerment: Alipay+ will partner with the Liberty to provide resources and digital tools to empower local communities and foster greater confidence and resilience.
- Sustainability: Alipay+ will support the Liberty and its community in urban reforestation and other conservation initiatives, such as Threes for Trees, whereby trees are planted for every three-pointer made by the Liberty during the season; and a community project to mobilize recycling of used shoes and fund the refurbishing of public basketball courts.
- Youth Sports and Technology Skills Development: Alipay+ will support projects for youth sports and technology training, including a series of youth-focused workshops and clinics to be co-designed and introduced with local partners and tutors, centered on digital skills, technology access and financial literacy, helping to bridge the digital divide and inspire the next generation of leaders.
To launch the partnership, Alipay+ supported the Liberty’s Shoe Sorting Day on December 18, as part of the team’s Season of Giving initiatives. Volunteers sorted donated sneakers for distribution to students experiencing homelessness across New York City, along with handwritten notes of encouragement to uplift them during challenging times. Beyond meeting an immediate need, the initiative also removes quiet barriers that can affect confidence as ill-fitting shoes can keep students from engaging fully. By providing brand-new sneakers students can feel proud to call their own, the Liberty and Alipay+ aim to empower local youth with renewed confidence and belonging.
The partnership will officially tip off next season at Barclays Center with marketing activations including in-arena branding, social media campaigns, and community engagement, amplifying the impact of each initiative across Liberty fans and neighborhoods throughout the city.
About the New York Liberty
The New York Liberty was founded on October 30, 1996 and is one of three original franchises remaining in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Liberty have made six WNBA Finals appearances in its 28-year history, and most recently, won the 2024 WNBA Championship. Owned by Joe and Clara Tsai, owners of the Brooklyn Nets, the Liberty play its home games at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. For more information, please visit www.nyliberty.com.
About Alipay+
Ant International's Alipay+ is a global cross-border payment and digitization gateway connecting global merchants to the Asia-Pacific digital wallet community. We offer fintechs and merchants innovative cross-border digital payment and travel services solutions, to enable seamless consumer experience while opening new growth opportunities for businesses, especially small businesses across the world.
The Ionescu press release, in full
WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu Becomes Global Brand Ambassador for Ant InternationalShare
NEW YORK & SINGAPORE--Four-time WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu today becomes a new Global Brand Ambassador for Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments, digitisation, and financial technology.
The partnership is built on a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable world through empowering underserved communities and youth groups with sports and technology innovation. It marks an important step in Ant International’s journey to foster growth and expand access to financial tools through innovative technology. Ionescu serves as the first Ant International global brand ambassador from North America.
“Sabrina embodies the spirit of perseverance and the passion for excellence that is driving young talents and small businesses around the world to uplift their communities,” said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. “As a legend in a sport known for creating bridges of trust between people across continents, the message she sends aligns perfectly with our vision. We look forward to working with Sabrina to promote inclusive growth through innovation and collaboration across borders.”
A four-time WNBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, 2024 World Champion, and 2021 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Sabrina Ionescu plays for the New York Liberty. Beyond her athletic achievements, she is a co-owner and commercial advisor for Bay FC (NWSL), Chief Athlete Officer at Division Street (an NIL collective for the University of Oregon), and founder of the SI20 Foundation, which provides equitable access to sports for underserved youth in New York City, the Bay Area, and Oregon.
“I’m drawn to Ant International's work to open up access to financial tools and opportunities for everyone,” said Sabrina Ionescu. “We share an aligned vision for equitable access, and their commitment to supporting small businesses and marginalized communities mirrors the work I do with youth through sports.”
With headquarters in Singapore and over 30 offices around the world, Ant International provides cross-border digital payment and digitalisation solutions for global merchants and financial institutions. In particular, it connects 150 million+ merchants to vast emerging markets in the Asia Pacific through integrating hundreds of mainstream and alternative payment methods.
About Ant International
Headquartered in Singapore, Ant International is a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider offering a unified techfin platform to unlock next-gen commerce for all. In close collaboration with partners, they support merchants of all sizes worldwide to realize their growth aspirations through a comprehensive range of tech-driven digital payment and financial services solutions.
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