Chris DeMarco believes the New York Liberty have demonstrated they will be prepared to face the Minnesota Lynx in the upcoming playoff series. Despite closing their regular season with an 83-65 home loss to the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, which brought DeMarco’s debut coaching season record to 26-18, the Liberty secured the 8th seed in the playoffs. This sets up a first-round matchup against the Lynx.
The team recently experienced back-to-back home defeats by Atlanta, including an 11-point loss on Monday. Managing injuries has been a challenge as star forward Breanna Stewart sat out Wednesday’s game as a precaution, and key center Jonquel Jones rolled her ankle after 19 minutes on the court due to an awkward incident involving a spectator’s foot. This incident highlighted the tough stretch the Liberty have faced during an injury-plagued season.
Last offseason, the Liberty brought in DeMarco as head coach, hoping that his leadership, combined with better health, would help the team move beyond their previous first-round playoff exits and get closer to WNBA Championship contention. Although DeMarco was not involved in last year’s disappointing playoff loss or the many injuries this season, he emphasized his team’s responsibility to bounce back and perform at a championship level in the postseason.
Following Wednesday’s game, DeMarco shared his confidence in the team’s fighting spirit. He acknowledged the current struggles but assured that the Liberty will be “ready to go” against Minnesota, emphasizing that playoff basketball offers a fresh start with everything on the line.
The Liberty claimed the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in June, triumphing over the Las Vegas Aces while working primarily with a tight rotation of seven players, including rookie Pauline Astier. They also won the regular season series against the Lynx 2-1 with a convincing 12-point victory on the road last Friday, which bodes well for their upcoming playoff rematch.
DeMarco sees the recent losses to the Dream as a valuable test ahead of the postseason, despite the injuries to Stewart and Jones complicating matters. He stresses the importance of learning from these games, particularly in terms of decision-making, persistence, and handling the physical nature of playoff basketball. The coach noted, “We have to get after it a little more,” describing these encounters as crucial preparation for what lies ahead.
With only a short time remaining before the playoffs, substantive changes are unlikely, but the Liberty’s potential remains bright. They possess top-tier talent capable of controlling games and rising to championship-level challenges. DeMarco believes their resilience, heart, and adaptability will ultimately define their postseason run.
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Fan Take: This update is crucial for WNBA fans because it underscores the grit and determination of the Liberty, a team battling adversity yet positioning itself as a fierce playoff contender. How well New York navigates injuries and builds on their momentum could not only impact their championship hopes but also exemplify the competitive spirit elevating the league’s growing popularity.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
