Liberty wont be making execuses as important stretch run kicks into gear

The FIBA Women’s World Cup break gave the Liberty little time to catch their breath.With more players competing in the tournament than any other WNBA team, the Liberty could have plenty of reasons for a sluggish return later this week.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.

Sabrina Ionescu isn’t interested in hearing them.Right now, two games separate fourth and eighth place in the WNBA standings.The Liberty (24-16) are currently in a three-way tie for sixth place.When their season officially resumes Friday in Minnesota, New York will have only four games left to battle for playoff position.After facing the Lynx, the Liberty travel to Toronto for a matchup with the Tempo before hosting the final two games, both against the Atlanta Dream.That means there’s no time for excuses or to ease back into the season.The focus, instead, has to be less on what the team has gone through and more on continuing the climb they had started.“We have to continue to ascend,” Ionescu said after Wednesday’s practice.

“We have to understand we can’t use these next four games as an opportunity for excuses.”The Liberty felt like they were finally hitting their stride last month.They won seven of their past 10 games.

Then, the WNBA season was put on ice.The team dispersed.Half went on brief vacations, and the other seven went to suit up for their respective national teams at the World Cup.The Liberty had five players in the championship and third-place games this past Sunday.Sure, some players might be tired after giving their all in Berlin.

Jet lag is real.But coach Chris DeMarco thinks there’s benefit to having so many players compete on one of the biggest international stages.“Every team is going through something similar right now,” he said.“The fact that they were all playing in those championship games, the third-place game.

“But if you look at it in ...