Isiah Thomas named president, part owner of New York Liberty

Isiah Thomas was named president of the Liberty of the W.N.B.A. on Wednesday, in a move that reunites him with James L. Dolan, his former boss with the Knicks.

“Isiah has been advising the team, and we are very pleased with the results,” said Dolan, executive chairman of Madison Square Garden, which owns both the Knicks and the Liberty. “Now, we’ve agreed that it is time for him to take a lead role with the team as president, and through his ownership interest."

Thomas, a Hall of Fame point guard with the Detroit Pistons, worked for Dolan before, as coach of the Knicks and in the team’s front office. He was often a lightning rod for criticism by fans and the news media, but for the most part seemed to retain Dolan’s loyalty.