The final six weeks of the 2017 regular season will see the Liberty split its home and road contests, ending the year with a three-game home stand, its 2nd-longest of the season, before wrapping things up at Dallas on Sept. 3. It also stands as one of the toughest stretches of the year in terms of opposition, with 8-of-12 opponents qualifying for the 2016 WNBA Playoffs and posting a combined record of 210-198 (.515) one year ago.
There is never a night off in the balanced and competitive WNBA, but the end of season slate is interesting for New York as it prepares for what is hopefully a 3rd-straight playoff push. Three home games before ending the season at Dallas over Labor Day weekend, which should result in an opportunity to get healthy and perhaps lean on the crowd at The Garden when it comes to much needed victories for postseason positioning.
Home (6) Away (6)
Games against 2017 WNBA Playoff teams: 8
Combined 2016 record of opponents: 210-198 (.515)
Longest home stand: 3 games
Longest road trip: 2 games
END THE LONGEST ROAD TRIP
The beginning of August features the final two games during what is the longest road trip of the season for the Liberty. Starting on July 25, New York plays five-straight away from home, wrapping things up at San Antonio on August 1, and at Los Angeles on August 4. Fortunately for the Liberty, it will not play consecutive road games the rest of the way.
THREE OF FOUR AT THE GARDEN
In fact, not only will the Liberty not have another road swing the rest of the season, New York’s 2nd-longest home stand of the year comes just before the end of the regular season, with three-straight at The Garden before the season finale. The Liberty faces Washington, Chicago, and San Antonio in succession from August 25 through September 1.
WEEKEND HEAVY
Over the final month-plus of the season, the Liberty will play a majority of its games on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, both home and away. During that span, New York has just three midweek contests, playing on six-straight Fridays and five-straight Sundays to end the year. That includes three-consecutive Sunday matinees at The Garden in August (Los Angeles on August 13, Minnesota on August 20, and Chicago on August 27).
HOME & HOME WITH THE SPARKS
During August and September the Liberty will play San Antonio, Indiana, and Los Angeles two times apiece. That includes two matchups with the defending champion Sparks over a 9-day span (at Los Angeles on August 4, and home against the Sparks on August 13).
2017 HOME FINALE
The 2017 home slate comes to a close against the same team that the Liberty tips things off against, the San Antonio Stars, on Friday, Sept. 1. After playing the Stars in the season opener, New York will not see San Antonio again until August 1, and then one final time a month later. The Stars are one of six teams to make multiple trips to The Garden this year.