Liberty secures top spot in WNBA playoffs with win against Mystics

The New York Liberty secured first place in the WNBA playoffs with an 87-71 win in Washington on Tuesday night.

At 32-7, the Liberty have the best record in the league with one game to go.

This is the second time the Liberty, a WNBA franchise that has existed since 1997, have had the best record in a season. The last time was 2015, when the WNBA played 34 games and New York had a record of 23-11.

Minnesota, which beat Connecticut 78-76 on Tuesday, improved its record to 30-9 and is seeded No. 2. Connecticut is 27-12 and currently in third place. Las Vegas is in fourth place at 26-13 after its win at Seattle.

Coach Sandy Brondello said one of the Liberty's goals is to become the No. 1 seed. Last year, New York was the No. 2 seed and lost to top-ranked Las Vegas in the WNBA finals.

After Sunday's 88-79 home loss to Minnesota, Brondello said she wanted her team to be upset about the way they played and how they responded.

“We started talking about it after Minnesota … they were playing playoff basketball and we weren't,” Brondello said. “So we have to learn from that. Tonight we're putting the emphasis on, 'OK, now it's playoff basketball.'

“These games are very meaningful. It was about winning the No. 1 seed. (In the playoffs) it's a new level. That's what we're focused on, just that mentality. With the added physicality, we have to play better. Also, we have to continue to trust what got us here and make sure we play the right way.”

Breanna Stewart led New York with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Liberty do not yet know who they will face in the first round of the playoffs, which begin Sunday. Atlanta holds the eighth and final playoff spot after its 86-70 win over injury-plagued Chicago on Tuesday.

Atlanta is 14-25, Washington and Chicago are 13-26. That means the final playoff team won't be decided until the final night of the regular season on Thursday, when all 12 teams play. Atlanta will face New York, Washington will face Indiana and Chicago will face Connecticut.

Indiana has already secured 6th place and Phoenix 7th place.