Photo caption: New York Liberty WNBA basketball team new head coach Walt Hopkins poses for photographers after a news conference at Barclays Center, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A new coach and a new home court for a team under new management.

It's been a year of massive change for the New York Liberty, but coach Walt Hopkins says he has a head start on feeling at home in his new surroundings at Barclays Center.

"My dad was actually born in Brooklyn, so there's a familarity to the area and to the people," he said. "There's a pace here. There's an energy."

It's an energy the team hopes will help propel them to a championship.

Joe Tsai, who owns the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, bought the WNBA franchise last year from the Madison Square Garden Company, which founded the Liberty more than two decades ago.

After playing at storied MSG, the Liberty spent the past two seasons at the Westchester County Center, which is a downgrade.

Liberty officials say they're happy to have found what they hope are stability, enthusiasm and success.

"This ownership group is the best in the league," said Jonathan Kolb, the general manager of the Liberty. "They stand by their words, and I think at every turn, they've had the opportunity to not do something, and they've chosen to do the right thing every single time. I don't want to cast dispersions on anyone else but talk about how great they really are."

The Liberty have the most appearances in the WNBA Finals, but no championships. This year, they have the number one pick in the draft. They're hoping the pick, their new home and new management will give them the shot in the arm they need.

Hopkins spent the last three years as the assistant coach of the Minnesota Lynx, which won the WNBA title in 2017. The Liberty selected him among 20 candidates they interviewed.

"This is somebody who's going to get out into the community. He's going to shake hands with our neighbors. He's going to let them know who the New York Liberty are, what we're about as we make this transition in Brooklyn," Kolb said.

"We have a young team, a really talented team and a team that I have really high hopes for," Hopkins said.

The WNBA season starts in May.