The New York Liberty are headed back to the WNBA playoffs, but the road there has been anything but smooth. On Tuesday night in San Francisco, New York fell 66-58 to the Golden State Valkyries, their fourth loss in six games. The only reason they clinched a postseason berth is because the Indiana Fever dropped their matchup to the Phoenix Mercury earlier in the night.
For a defending champion, it hardly feels like cause for celebration.
“We just lost the game. Yeah, we’re in the playoffs, but we still lost the game,” head coach Sandy Brondello said afterward.
A season of frustration
The Liberty had three earlier chances to lock up their playoff spot, and each time they failed. Injuries, inconsistent shooting, and a lack of rhythm have defined much of their year. The team has only had its full roster available twice all season, both during the opening week. Sabrina Ionescu sat out again with a toe injury, and Nyara Sabally was also sidelined.
Breanna Stewart, who has carried the load through much of the season, didn’t hide her disappointment.
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“This has been disappointing, collectively,” Stewart said. “We’ve got three games left and we’re not where we need to be. It’s frustrating, it’s tough.”
Breaking down the loss
New York actually led by four after the first quarter, but everything unraveled in the second. Golden State outscored them 26-8 in that frame, fueled by five Liberty turnovers and a barrage of outside shooting from Kate Martin, who knocked down the Valkyries’ first three triples of the night.
The Liberty, who came into the game with the league’s best defense against the three, couldn’t slow the momentum. By halftime, they trailed by 14 and never fully recovered.
What’s next
With three regular-season games remaining, the Liberty have little time to find answers. They’ve used 16 different starting lineups, struggled with chemistry, and still don’t know when Ionescu will return.
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