The 2025 WNBA season will be memorable for many records, the inclusion of the expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries, the Fever’s Commissioners’ Cup title run, Paige Bueckers’ rookie season, CBA negotiations, and injuries. The majority of the league faced injury troubles, but not timing-wise; the New York Liberty will be at a major disadvantage.
The Minnesota Lynx has made Napheesa Collier’s status probable, the Indiana Fever is set for Caitlin Clark’s return, and many other teams got their star players back in the lineup before the postseason games—except the defending champions, the Liberty.
Injuries Hit The New York Liberty Harder Than Any Other Team
Yes, Clark’s lengthy absence affected the Indiana franchise’s ranking, and they are still sailing through the rocky patch of postseason qualification, but NY’s troubles are different. One of the favorites for the title never had its full-strength side, and now, with injuries to its core players close to the playoffs, Sandy Brondello and co. are under immense pressure.
In the recent game against the Atlanta Dream, HC Brondello used a 13th different starting lineup following the absence of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. Nose injury to Natasha Cloud could force the 14th lineup for the 2024 champions, testing its depth and capabilities against the Connecticut Sun on August 25. The 57-year-old coach expressed frustration over the recurring injury issues.
“We’re on the struggle bus. We know that, but we’re getting some really good players back. We know it doesn’t mean things will just automatically change,” Brondello said after the game against the second-placed Dream.
"We're on the struggle bus. We know that, but we're getting some really good players back. We know it doesn't mean things will just automatically change."
— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty) August 23, 2025
Sandy Brondello talks about the Liberty's last two losses: pic.twitter.com/TYoIhKlMTT
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The experienced coach’s frustration is understandable given the team’s free fall from second place to fifth place. If things stay the same until the end of the season, the NY side will not only lose its home court advantage but will also face tougher opponents every round.
Breanna Stewart’s Injury Proved To Be The Turning Point For The New York Liberty
If anyone looks to put a figure on the downfall of the Liberty in 2025, it will be a game against the Los Angeles Sparks, where the 30-year-old forward suffered an injury and left the game in the first quarter. Including the Sparks game, Liberty lost nine games out of 14 games played.
Her absence impacted the team’s defense. The side once had the 97.6 defensive rating in the league, and after Stewart’s injury, it went up to 106.8 – a 10-point differential pinpointing the veteran forward’s importance to the team. Stewart’s injury dropped Liberty to the fourth-worst defensive record in the league during the period. While attack wins games, defense wins championships, and the Liberty side is looking to defend its title behind both attack and defense.