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Liberty Battles Injuries and Losses in Bid to Reclaim Top Seed
16 Aug
Summary
- Liberty lose 3rd game to Lynx, now half-game behind Atlanta Dream
- Breanna Stewart's knee issues require load management to stay healthy
- Sabrina Ionescu must be more aggressive to lead Liberty's offense
As of August 17th, 2025, the New York Liberty, a team that entered the season as a clear WNBA title contender, now finds itself in an unexpectedly precarious position. Despite a star-studded lineup led by Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones, the Liberty have just lost their third game of the season to the Minnesota Lynx, who now hold a crucial tiebreaker.
The Liberty's grip on the Eastern Conference's top seed has slipped, as they now sit a half-game behind the Atlanta Dream. With the trade deadline passed and little room for roster restructuring, the Liberty must turn inward to rediscover their edge and course-correct before their playoff positioning becomes irreversibly disadvantaged.
To salvage their campaign, the Liberty must make several strategic adjustments. First, they need to carefully manage Stewart's minutes and availability to keep her healthy and dominant in the playoffs, even if that means sacrificing a few regular-season wins. Secondly, they must empower Ionescu to be more aggressive and take on a greater scoring load, especially when Stewart is off the floor. Lastly, the Liberty should shift more offensive sets to feature Jones in the post, as her consistent interior presence and outside shooting can help balance the offense.
Additionally, the Liberty must find ways to better utilize their bench, develop Meesseman's chemistry with the second unit, and tighten their perimeter defense and late-game execution. By making these adjustments, the Liberty can still finish the season as the top team in the East and a legitimate title favorite, but the window to reclaim their dominance is closing quickly.
