Well, there it is. After narrowly clinching the eight seed playoff spot, the New York Liberty are headed to the WNBA playoffs. There’s excitement, but the Liberty are far from out of the woods yet. In fact, they’ll be facing the Phoenix Mercury this Thursday—and that’s no easy task.
Equipped with a capable roster, the Mercury are sure to bring their A-game on Thursday. The combination of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi is dangerous. After missing bouts of the season due to injuries, Taurasi’s best is questionable.
However, as an older player in the WNBA, Taurasi doesn’t have endless years ahead of her to chase after a fourth championship title, and she knows it. It feels like she’ll push through any residual injury if it means coming close to another WNBA title.
When it comes to Diggins-Smith, she has demonstrated a high level of offensive aggression. Averaging 17.7 points per game, Diggins-Smith can get the work done. Paired with the all-around menace of Griner—who is averaging 20.5 points per game—Diggins-Smith will demand a high defensive IQ of the Liberty.
With regards to the Liberty, the team’s roster is certainly a talented one. Yet after so narrowly making it into the playoffs, you can’t help but wonder New York’s confidence entering Phoenix. Instead of confident, will they appear frazzled and rushed? New York has had that tendency throughout the 2021 regular season.
If the Liberty are able to head into Thursday’s game calm, cool, and collected, they might be able to give the Mercury a run for their money. After all, Liberty forward Natasha Howard is a skilled defender. As the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, it goes without saying that she is capable of guarding players like Diggins-Smith and Griner.
Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney have worked efficiently together this season. Laney’s flourished as a point-producer and have coupled nicely with Ionescu’s playmaking. If the two work in harmony on Thursday night, Laney and Ionescu will create serious problems for the Mercury.
Though Michaela Onyenwere, as a rookie, is unlikely to get significant floor-time, when she does, she’s sure to give it her all. After all, she is seemingly the WNBA’s most likely candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. In the final hours of Onyenwere’s first season, she’ll have to prove that she deserves the award.
If the Liberty go one to win Thursday night, they’ll face the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the WNBA playoffs. So, New York Liberty fans, try not to hold your breath. There’s a stressful week ahead.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports throughout the playoffs for more from the WNBA. Emma is on Twitter too. Follow her @Blashphemma.
