New York Liberty: A Bitter Sweet Season Finale and Eyes on the Playoffs
The New York Liberty, after a promising start to the season, are facing the WNBA playoffs with a mix of optimism and challenges. After a resounding victory that positioned them as the ninth team in league history to start with a 9-0 record, the Liberty were forced to close the regular season with an 8-7 balance.
Despite an impressive initial performance, the New York team finished in fifth position, which prevents them from having the advantage of playing at home in the first round of the playoffs. This fact contrasts with the expectations generated at the beginning of the season, where it was anticipated that the Liberty could surpass the success of the previous year.
The bets place the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces as favorites to win the 2025 championship.
“We’ve faced a lot of adversity, but there are also many games where we feel we could have played better.”
Sandy Brondello, coachRepeating success in the WNBA is a constant challenge. Only two teams have managed to win consecutive titles after the Houston Comets dominated the first four seasons.
The Liberty’s regular season was marked by ups and downs, including injuries and roster changes. Key players like Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu suffered significant injuries, affecting the team’s performance. The absence of these stars impacted the team’s cohesion.
In the games where the starting trio could play, the Liberty showed their potential, with a 12-2 record. However, the number of minutes played together was less compared to the previous season.
The team’s depth was also affected by other injuries, players’ participation in international competitions, and the absence of key players from last season. Despite these difficulties, the team incorporated Natasha Cloud and Marine Johannes, who was the only player to participate in all 44 games of the season.In the image: Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones during the 2024 season, played 805 minutes together. This season, injuries reduced that figure to 234 minutes.
The team also added Emma Meesseman, who averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 games. The addition of Meesseman gave the Liberty three players who have been named WNBA Finals MVP.
Coach Sandy Brondello highlighted the team’s resilience and their ability to improve. Breanna Stewart emphasized the importance of mental fortitude and experience in the playoffs.
With the full roster back for the playoffs, the Liberty are confident in their ability to compete and advance in the postseason.
