Brondello says healthy Liberty ‘really dangerous’ as playoff battle with Mercury approaches

CHICAGO — Don’t let the New York Liberty’s fifth-place finish in the regular season obscure the team’s potential: coach Sandy Brondello said Tuesday that the defending WNBA champions, when fully healthy, can be “really dangerous.” The Liberty enter the postseason having navigated a campaign marked by injuries and uneven stretches, and face a steep climb to repeat amid a challenging draw against the Phoenix Mercury.

“There are players that complement our big three and that’s important for us,” Brondello said. “I’m really confident. I think our players are really confident to just have our full group back.” Her comments underscored the team’s belief that depth and experience can offset a middling regular-season record if availability improves.

At the core of the Liberty’s case is postseason pedigree. As reigning champions, New York has institutional playoff experience and a roster built around established scorers and defenders who have operated at a high level under playoff pressure. Brondello pointed to role players around the team’s primary stars as key to restoring balance and boosting matchup flexibility.

Those returning pieces, according to the coach, should allow the Liberty to get back to an inside-out offensive approach and to mix defensive looks. When the full complement of players is available, New York can rely on varied lineups that create matchup problems and allow star scorers to operate without facing constant double teams.

But the regular season offered clear warning signs. Injuries repeatedly interrupted continuity, forcing lineup changes and limiting practice time. The Liberty recorded stretches of inconsistent offense and defensive lapses that contributed to losses and ultimately a lower seed than most champions would accept. That variability raises questions about whether the team can sustain the performance level needed over a playoff series.

Matchup considerations further complicate the Liberty’s path. Phoenix presents offensive weapons and a tempo that can expose defensive mismatches if New York’s rotations are hampered by minutes restrictions or lingering injuries. The Liberty will need to protect the ball, rebound effectively and find dependable scoring from beyond their top scorers to blunt what the Mercury can produce.

Brondello’s optimism rests on health and cohesion. With key players nearing returns and role players expected to pick up minutes, the Liberty are banking on a familiar formula: championship experience plus complementary depth. How quickly that group can re-establish on-court chemistry will likely determine whether New York can make a deep run or succumb to the consequences of a disrupted regular season.

The teams are set to meet in a playoff series that will test those assertions; for the Liberty, the immediate objective is clear — stay healthy and regain the consistency that defined their title run. Brondello’s message was succinct and pointed: when the roster is whole, New York believes it is dangerous enough to challenge for another title.