Liberty begin title defense as No. 5 seed after uneven regular season
Reigning WNBA champions closed an up-and-down 2025 campaign Thursday and enter a wide-open playoff picture with veteran talent on their side
The New York Liberty will start their title defense from a spot few expected, entering the 2025 WNBA playoffs as the No. 5 seed after an uneven regular season that ended Thursday night.
The club, which captured the championship last season, closed the door on a campaign described by team officials and observers as up-and-down. The finish represents a drop from the position the Liberty had aimed for, but the team still carries a championship pedigree and postseason experience into the tournament.
Despite the lower seed, the Liberty’s roster remains stocked with players who have won titles at the WNBA and EuroLeague levels, a combination that could prove decisive in short series and knockout games. Those credentials give New York a foundation to mount a repeat bid even as questions linger about consistency across the regular season.
The playoffs mark a fresh start for the defending champions, who carry both the benefit of experience and the challenge of navigating a postseason without the cushion of a top-four seed. That path will require the Liberty to sustain higher-level play than they managed in stretches this year, when injuries, roster adjustments and inconsistent stretches contributed to their slide in the standings.
League observers have noted the parity across the WNBA this season, with several teams positioned to make deep runs. The Liberty’s veteran core and championship experience provide them with strategic advantages in tight games and pressure situations, but they will face opponents equally motivated to upset a reigning champion.
For New York, the immediate focus is on preparation and matchup planning as the playoffs open. Coaching staff and players emphasized finishing the regular season in a way that could carry momentum into October, and the team’s veteran presence is expected to shape rotations and key minutes in the postseason.
How far the Liberty can go will hinge on whether they can translate pockets of strong play into consistent performance across consecutive playoff games. The combination of postseason know-how and championship experience gives them a credible path, but the No. 5 seed means a more congested route back to the finals than a higher placement would have afforded.
The playoffs officially begin this week, and for the Liberty the title defense is now underway in earnest. As the bracket tightens, New York’s blend of proven winners and veteran leadership will be tested against a league that many view as especially open and competitive this year.