Reason #1: The Liberty are a good defensive team
Offense is incredibly important but it is not everything. Defense is a crucial part of playoff success. After all, it is much easier to outscore an opponent if you can keep them from destroying you on the offensive end of the floor. That’s why the best teams are two-way teams.
The Liberty have already shown this season that they can be just that and currently rank third in defensive rating behind only the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun. Last season, the Las Vegas Aces, Connecticut Sun, and New York Liberty had the three best defensive ratings in the league. The same teams finished the regular season in the three top seeds and two went on to the WNBA Finals.
Defense matters at the highest level and the Liberty have the ability to play lock-down defense if everyone is focused and in the right spot. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are both good shot blockers and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich are great wing defenders.
Plus, the Liberty have the option to run big lineups with size at every position. If Ionescu runs the point surrounded by Stewart, Jones, Fiebich, and Laney-Hamilton, for example, no player on the floor would be shorter than 5-feet-11.