WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx up, Valkyries down, Liberty snap skid - ESPN

The New York Liberty entered this season as one of the favorites to win the WNBA title. But with the All-Star Game looming Saturday, it's hard to know what to make of the Liberty.

On Monday, they had to scramble to beat a Dallas Wings team that was without Paige Bueckers. That 99-98 overtime decision snapped a four-game losing streak. In the past month, the Liberty are 3-8, not counting their Commissioner's Cup final victory on June 30.

They won the Cup title for the second time. But to have a chance to claim their second WNBA championship, the Liberty need positive consistency during the second half of the season. It took until August for the Las Vegas Aces to do that last season on the way to winning the title, so it's possible.

The Liberty's injuries have been an issue all season, and forwards Satou Sabally (concussion) and Leonie Fiebich (foot) are out indefinitely. But with superior talent such as post players Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones being healthy and guard Sabrina Ionescu looking close to full strength after missing 12 games earlier in the campaign, the Liberty seem better than their 14-12 record would indicate.

We're hesitant to say Monday's victory means anything regarding the Liberty's confidence, because they've been all over the map in that regard. But it does guarantee that New York — which has one more game this week — will go into the All-Star break above .500. Before this season, that wouldn't have seemed like anything to celebrate for the Liberty. But all things considered, they will take where they stand now.

After Wednesday's slate of seven games, the league pauses its regular-season competition for Saturday's All-Star Game (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and will resume play July 28.

Previous ranking: 2