The New York Liberty will enter the WNBA playoffs as one of many favorites to win the championship.
However on Sunday afternoon, the Washington Mystics would be the workforce taking the courtroom with its postseason seeding nonetheless up within the air.
The Liberty will look to increase their profitable streak and the Mystics will search to enter the playoffs on a excessive be aware Sunday, when New York hosts Washington within the regular-season finale.
The Liberty received their eighth straight sport Thursday, when Breanna Stewart scored 25 factors to guide 4 gamers in double figures as New York overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the visiting Los Angeles Sparks 96-89. The Mystics fell Friday night time to the visiting Atlanta Dream 80-75.
The Liberty’s hopes of incomes the No. 1 seed within the playoffs lessened when the defending champion Las Vegas Aces (33-6) beat the Phoenix Mercury 94-73. New York (32-7) could be the No. 2 seed and is slated to start the playoffs subsequent Friday by internet hosting the opener of a best-of-three collection.
The win over the Sparks served as an applicable preparation for New York, which has received 4 video games this season through which it trailed by at the very least 14 factors.
“I feel it exhibits what we’re able to doing,” stated Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, whose 4 3-pointers on Thursday gave her 124 this 12 months, breaking the WNBA single-season document held by Diana Taurasi. “After we get within the playoffs and we get right into a state of affairs like that, it isn’t going to be new to us.”
A win by the Liberty over the Mystics (18-21) would guarantee a playoff rematch subsequent week. Washington may nonetheless climb to the No. 6 seed relying on how the Dream and Minnesota Lynx fare Sunday towards the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever, respectively.
Head coach Eric Thibault hinted Friday that the Mystics — who’ve received as many as three straight video games simply as soon as this season and can enter the postseason with out level guard Kristi Toliver (torn ACL) — will strategy Sunday’s finale with a postseason-like depth.
“I do not assume we are able to roll into the playoffs enjoying like we did tonight, relaxation a bunch of individuals and assume we’ll be effective,” Thibault stated.
—Area Degree Media