Liberty Playoff Watch: Magic Numbers and Clinch Scenarios
The postseason path to another New York Liberty title is set to be paved.
The longest season in WNBA history is entering its final stages, as each of the league's 13 teams is nearing the completion of its 44-game schedule. New York, of course, stands as the defending champions, having defeated the Minnesota Lynx in a thrilling five-game fracas in the most recent WNBA Finals for the first postseason championship in franchise history.
Though injuries have partly derailed the potential for a return trip, the Liberty are still well-stocked for another go at the title: the team is led by its "big three" of Sabrina Ionescu, defending Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, and a recovering Breanna Stewart while fellow championship starter Leonie Fiebich is also back. Newcomers to the cause include Natasha Cloud and tenured veteran Marines Johannes.
This year's championship series will likewise be extended, as the set will extend to seven games for the first time.
Keep track of the formation of the bracket and the Liberty's quest for a repeat below.
Standings
Team | Wins | Losses | Games Back |
|---|---|---|---|
1. y-Minnesota | 34 | 10 | |
2. x-Las Vegas | 30 | 14 | 4 |
3. x-Atlanta | 30 | 14 | 4 |
4. x-Phoenix | 27 | 17 | 7 |
5. x-LIBERTY | 27 | 17 | 7 |
6. x-Indiana | 24 | 20 | 10 |
7. x-Seattle | 23 | 21 | 11 |
8 x-Golden State | 23 | 20 | 11 |
Top 8 teams reach playoffs
(x-clinched playoff berth)
(y-clnched top seed)
Liberty Magic Numbers
Clinch Playoff Berth: CLINCHED
Clinch 1st Round Homecourt: N/A
Notable Weekly Scores and Schedule
(All Times ET)
(All Games on WNBA League Pass Unless Noted)
Sunday, September 7
Indiana 94, Washington 65
Los Angeles 91, Dallas 77
Las Vegas 80, Chicago 66
Monday, September 8
Atlanta 87, Connecticut 62
Tuesday, September 9
LIBERTY 75, Washington 66
Indiana 83, Minnesota 72
Las Vegas 92, Chicago 61
Los Angeles 88, Phoenix 83
Seattle 74, Golden State 73
Wednesday, September 10
Atlanta 88, Connecticut 72
Thursday, September 11
LIBERTY 91, Chicago 86
Dallas 97, Phoenix 76
Las Vegas 103, Los Angeles 75
Minnesota 72, Golden State 53
END OF REGULAR SEASON
Current Playoff Matchups
(1) *Minnesota vs. *(8) Golden State
(2) *Las Vegas vs. (7) *Seattle
(3) *Atlanta vs. (6) *Indiana
(4) *Phoenix vs. (5) *LIBERTY
(*-Locked into seed)
Geoff Magliocchetti is a veteran sportswriter who contributes to a variety of sites on the "On SI" network. In addition to the Yankees/Mets, Geoff also covers the New York Knicks, New York Liberty, and New York Giants and has previously written about the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Staten Island Yankees, and NASCAR.