Liberty Secure Playoff Spot for Sixth Straight Year After Fire Defeat

The New York Liberty secured a place in the postseason for the sixth year in a row after the Chicago Fire were beaten by Washington, a result that also confirmed the Mystics' playoff entry. With a final tally of 23 wins and 15 losses, the Liberty entered the bracket as the No. 6 seed, trailing the Fever, Dream and others in the standings. Coach Chris DeMarco, appointed in the previous offseason, is tasked with returning the team to the WNBA Finals after a first-round loss the year before.

The roster’s core of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu stayed intact despite injuries to several players throughout the campaign. While Sabally remains sidelined with a head injury, the squad has regained health and posted a decisive victory over the Fever, featuring 22 points from Stewart, 20 from Leonie Fiebich and a double-double from Jones. The Liberty now look ahead to their opening series next month, hoping to improve on last season's early exit.