Liberty seals top overall seed, drops Mystics under playoff line

New York’s big win over Washington secures a double-bye into the semifinals and eliminates their rivals from playoff contention.

On Sunday afternoon, the New York Liberty clinched the top overall seed in the WNBA playoffs with a resounding 89-71 victory over the Washington Mystics. The win not only secures a double-bye into the semifinals for the Liberty, but also eliminates the Mystics from playoff contention.

A Dominant Performance from New York

The Liberty were in control of the game from the opening tip, leading by as many as 21 points in the first half. New York’s offense was clicking on all cylinders, as they shot 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Betnijah Laney led the way for the Liberty with 21 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and 10 assists.

The Mystics, on the other hand, struggled to keep pace with the Liberty. Washington shot just 38% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Elena Delle Donne led the way for the Mystics with 18 points, but she was the only Washington player to reach double figures.

A Disappointing End for the Mystics

The loss to the Liberty was a disappointing end to the season for the Mystics. Washington had high hopes entering the year, but they were plagued by injuries and inconsistency throughout the season. The Mystics finished the season with a 12-20 record, which was good for last place in the Eastern Conference.

The Liberty, on the other hand, have been one of the most consistent teams in the WNBA this season. New York finished the regular season with a 22-10 record, which was the second-best record in the league. The Liberty will now have a double-bye into the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the first-round matchup between the Chicago Sky and the Dallas Wings.