Keia Clarke and the WNBA New York Liberty are Ready to Conquer All
As Clarke says, “Ellie, along with everything else we’ve crafted, plays a role in shaping our content and social voice, and that’s what our fans connect with.”
This season, as they’re in the final stretches of the championship play offs, the Liberty aren’t just ready—they’re here to rewrite the narrative. They’re showing that women in sports aren’t just playing to compete—they’re playing to claim their rightful place at the top, setting a new standard that goes beyond the court and straight into the heart of everyone watching.
Glamour: What is the most misunderstood thing about what you do?
Keia Clarke: People often misunderstand that I don’t recruit or draft players, and I’m not focused on coaching. I run the business side of things.
You’ve held various roles with the Liberty over the years, from marketing to COO, and now CEO. How has your vision for the team and its impact evolved as you’ve moved up the ladder?
So much has changed about how I approach the impact I can have on the franchise, and honestly, within the league. As my role has grown, so has the level of responsibility — and the type of responsibility. In the early years, I was very tactical, focused on the next game, the next event, and the marketing or revenue tied to those one-on-one situations. But as a leader, my focus has shifted more toward people management — getting the best out of my team daily, making sure they feel seen and motivated. Lately, I’ve been thinking more long-term. Early on, it was about the next thing, but now I’m looking ahead to one, two, even five years down the road. The output of what we do hasn’t changed — it’s still live events and sports. But the way I think about it, and my vision for where we’re going, has evolved. It’s not just about the product on the court anymore, it’s about how the people behind the scenes are activating and initiating our goals. That’s where my focus is now.
What was your first big job?
My first big job was as an account executive, or salesperson, at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Your path from athlete to executive is a unique one. How has your experience as a player influenced the way you lead the Liberty team and franchise today?
