The New York Liberty have clinched a berth in the WNBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. The team secured their postseason status on Sunday night after the Chicago Fire lost to the Washington Mystics, 105-100.
As of Sunday night, the Liberty held the No. 6 seed with a 23-15 record. The Indiana Fever were seeded fifth at 25-14, and the Atlanta Dream held the fourth seed with a 24-13 record.
The Liberty's performance this season has been marked by variability, including an eight-game winning streak and a ten-game stretch with only two wins. The team's ultimate success in 2026 will be judged by their performance in the postseason tournament, which begins next month.
Chris DeMarco was hired as head coach last offseason with the goal of guiding the Liberty back to the WNBA Finals. The team reached the Finals in 2023 and won the franchise's first title in 2024. Last season, the Liberty were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Mercury, which led to the dismissal of then-head coach Sandy Brondello.
The team's core players, including Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, have ensured their continued status as contenders. However, the Liberty have faced challenges with injuries to key players like Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, and Satou Sabally throughout the season. Sabally remains sidelined with a head injury.
Recently, the Liberty have shown improved form, winning seven of their last nine games. This includes a victory against the Indiana Fever on Saturday at Barclays Center. Stewart scored 22 points, Fiebich added 20, and Jones recorded a double-double in the seven-point win over a team they could potentially surpass in the standings.