This year, several teams are eying a WNBA championship and have realistic chances to win. The New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm, and Las Vegas Aces are the undisputed top-five teams in the league this season. All of them have a chance but one team stands out.
After losing in the WNBA Finals to the Las Vegas Aces in 2023, it seems it is finally time for the New York Liberty to win a championship. The team has been incredibly dominant this season, losing only six games and getting comfortable at the top of the standings.
Finishing first in the regular season usually means a favorable first-round matchup. If the season ended today, the Liberty would face the Chicago Sky, a young team they already beat three times this season. It seems that the Liberty are destined to win the 2024 championship and for good reason.
Reason #3: The Liberty have the reigning MVP as well as depth
Last year’s MVP race was a close one between Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, and A’ja Wilson but in the end, Stewart took home her second MVP award. There are other great players in the league this season—A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier, for example, are two of the favorites to win MVP—but having Breanna Stewart on your team always gives you an advantage, especially in the playoffs.
Stewart is an experienced veteran, averaging 20.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. She contributes to winning basketball in every area of the game and can go get a bucket whenever her team needs her to.
Even if Stewart is not the best player in the WNBA this season, she is a big reason why the Liberty are so good and will play a huge role in the playoffs. She is a true two-way force and one of the most proven players in the league.
Stewart alone will likely not be enough to win the Liberty a championship, though. The best teams are deep teams and the Liberty are just that.
New York has a reliable starting five of Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones as well as bench players who can fill gaps and step up. Kayla Thornton, Leonie Fiebich, Nyara Sabally, and Kennedy Burke have all shown that they can contribute to winning basketball and fill bigger roles when needed.
Reason #2: The Liberty have the best offensive rating in the league
One big reason for the Liberty’s success this season is their offense. With an offensive rating of 106.5, they run the best offense in the league. They are one of the most efficient teams this season, ranking third in field goal percentage and fourth in three-point percentage. On top of that, the Liberty are also one of the best teams when it comes to sharing the ball.
New York’s offense has been running smoothly for most of the season and there is no reason why that should be any different in the playoffs. In the playoffs, the defensive intensity picks up. Teams are more physical and have more time to game plan and zero in on specific plays they want to disrupt. The Liberty seem prepared for that.
They have four players averaging double-digit points per game and several bench players who can step up their games. Rookie Leonie Fiebich, for example, had some nice games this season, including a recent 16-point performance in a close win over the Dallas Wings.
The Liberty also have several good playmakers. All of their starters average at least three assists per game. So, the Liberty are capable of running one of the best team offenses in the league but they also have players to go to when the offense is struggling. Breanna Stewart can get a bucket even against the best defenders and Sabrina Ionescu is famous for hitting difficult threes.
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.