WNBA, New York Liberty suspend Isiah Thomas' ownership application

Isiah Thomas' bid to own a share of the WNBA's New York Liberty has been put on hold.

"After further discussion and with the season underway, the WNBA and the New York Liberty have agreed to suspend consideration of Isiah Thomas' application for an ownership interest in the Liberty until further notice," the league said in a statement. "The process will resume at a future time as determined by the Liberty."

Thomas' May hiring as Liberty team president, which came with news that he would also be getting an ownership stake in the team, was met with a bevy of criticism, as Thomas once had a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by former New York Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders.

Sanders received an $11.6 million settlement from the Madison Square Garden Company in 2007, but the Knicks have stood by their belief that Thomas was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

The Women's Sports Foundation later started an online petition at change.org in an effort to block Thomas' ownership bid.

Thomas' hiring was also surprising given how spectacularly he failed in running the Knicks organization under MSG chairman James Dolan.