Sting Is In, Liberty Out

The Charlotte Sting clinched the No. 2 seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 61-59 overtime victory over the New York Liberty before 9,722 Sunday.

The win eliminated the defending Eastern champion Liberty from the playoffs, the first time since 1998 that New York (16-18) has not reached WNBA postseason play.

After Dawn Staley made one of two free throws for a 61-59 lead with 10 seconds left, New York had a final chance.

But Tari Phillips missed a running layup, and the Sting ran out the clock.

Liberty Coach Richie Adubato, who picked up a technical foul earlier in the game, stormed after officials, arguing that Phillips had been fouled. He continued to yell until a police officer escorted him to the locker room.

Allison Feaster, who made only three of 10 shots in regulation, sank two three-point shots and took an offensive rebound with 15 seconds left to set up Staley’s free throw for Charlotte (18-15).