Liberty Prepares for Playoffs Amid Mixed Focus

The Liberty is narrowing its sights on the playoffs, but honestly, their attention isn’t solely on the last two regular-season games. They’ve already secured the No. 5 seed and will face the Mystics and Sky on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. So, instead of fixating on their immediate opponents, they’re spending their time strategizing for the first round.

During media-accessible practices earlier this week, the team worked on matchups and tactics, particularly for a potential showdown against the Mercury, who seem to be the most likely first-round opponent. “I’ve just played Phoenix and Atlanta,” head coach Sandy Brondello noted. “Those teams are key players for us, so I’ve been on the practice court trying to simulate playoff conditions.”

After a recent loss to Connecticut, Phoenix finds itself firmly situated near the fourth seed. Interestingly, Liberty shares a record of 28-14 with them, which means they’re also mulling over other potential matchups, like the Aces and the Dream. However, the Aces currently hold the tiebreaker for the second seed.

With the Mercury trailing by just one game against both competitors, any major shakeup seems unlikely unless the Aces or Dream stumble in their remaining games against non-playoff teams.

Breanna Stewart highlighted the necessity of solidifying their strategies. “We have a few plays each team is familiar with, and we’re focused on ensuring that our coverage aligns with those plans,” she said after practice. Notably, Phoenix has won three out of the four games against Liberty this season, though it’s worth noting that not all regular players from Liberty were available during those matchups.

Sabrina Ionescu recently dealt with a toe injury, while Jonquel Jones was out due to an ankle issue. The two were absent when they last faced Mercury, a game where Liberty clinched a solid 89-76 victory.

“I think it doesn’t really matter who we play against,” Ionescu commented. “What’s more crucial is we continue to improve and remain focused on ourselves.” She’s set to play against the Mystics on Tuesday alongside Nyara Sabally, who has been recovering from a knee injury. It’ll mark the first time the Liberty has been fully healthy since the season began in late May.

In their last win over the Storm, Liberty saw some effective contributions from both Kennedy Burke and Fevich, a strategy moving forward that seems promising. Burke scored 13 points, while Fevich had 21—the latter marking her first double-digit game since mid-August.

Blondello has been encouraging Fevich to adopt a more aggressive mindset. “We need to position her better and remind her to seize opportunities,” he explained. “Given our lineup, we need her to be a key offensive player.” If she can maintain this level of performance, Fevich could be pivotal for Liberty during the postseason.