Struggling Liberty clinch playoff spot despite loss

SAN FRANCISCO -- The New York Liberty officially clinched a spot in the WNBA postseason Tuesday night, but it didn't happen the way they wanted it to. It wasn't by their own doing, but rather by an assist from the Phoenix Mercury.

The Liberty lost the Golden State Valkyries 66-58 but still earned a playoff berth because the Indiana Fever lost to the Mercury earlier Tuesday.

"We just lost the game. Yeah, we're in the playoffs, but we still lost the game," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.

New York faltered on its first three opportunities to clinch a playoff spot by losing and because other game results didn't go its way. But entering Tuesday's game against Golden State, the team wasn't focused on those details.

The Liberty have lost four of their past six games and overall have had an underwhelming season as they look to defend their 2024 title. They have only three regular-season games left and are still trying to get healthy, build chemistry and put together complete efforts.

Against the Valkyries, all of that were lacking.

"This has been disappointing, collectively," Breanna Stewart said. "Yeah, there can be bright spots or whatever, but we have three games left and we're not where we need to be. It's frustrating, it's tough."

After building a four-point lead by the end of the first quarter, the Liberty were outscored 26-8 in the second, when they committed five turnovers and shot just 16.7% from 3-point range. They trailed by 14 at halftime.

The Liberty entered Tuesday with the league's best 3-point defense. But on Tuesday, they allowed the Valkyries to find their offensive rhythm when Kate Martin hit the team's first three 3-point attempts in the second quarter.

Stewart said it was a microcosm of the season.

"It's the story of our season right now," Stewart said. "When we have to take the ball out of the net, we struggle. We gave up 26 points [in the second quarter] and our spacing was a little bad. And I thought sometimes we had good looks and we just missed, but to put ourselves in a hole like that, it's like ..."

Sabrina Ionescu sat out her third consecutive game because of a left big toe injury, and Nyara Sabally also was sidelined. The Liberty have had their full roster for only two games this season -- the first and second games -- and have used 16 starting lineups.

"We haven't lived up to our expectations, and yes, obviously, injuries have been a part of that," Brondello said before the game. "We've played so many different rotations, and as a team we're not always cohesive because of the lack of time together, but that's not an excuse.

"I am confident in us, especially when we get Sabrina back. I feel good about this team, but we need to win now."