Vickie Johnson, a member of the Liberty since the WNBA’s earliest days, admits her perspective has changed over the past five years.
No longer thrilled just to be playing professionally, Johnson has seen success – but not as much as she wants. In the coming weeks, she expects that to change.
“We know we’re not getting any younger and that chances won’t always be there,” Johnson said yesterday after the team’s practice at the Garden. The Liberty host the Lynx (9-19) tonight. “We have to take advantage of it this time.”
So far, at least they are. The Liberty (17-10) have won three in a row and seven of their last eight, extending to two games their Eastern Conference lead over the stumbling Mystics. The Liberty will clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight or a loss by Indiana.
Still, Johnson wants to avoid a pattern that by now seems scripted: An inconsistent early season is salvaged with a flurry of late-season wins, leading to a strong showing in the playoffs that ultimately falls short. Johnson insists this time will be different.
“The window of opportunity is closing,” said Johnson, who has contributed 20 points in each of the team’s last two victories, including Sunday’s 71-58 win over the Sting in Charlotte. “This is a veteran team, which is a good thing. But it also means that you don’t have an awful lot of time left together.”
Head coach Richie Adubato has similar thoughts.
“We’ve been there before as a group, where some other teams haven’t,” Adubato said. “They have to go through some growing pains. We don’t have those anymore.”