SAN FRANCISCO -- The New York Liberty officially clinched a spot in the WNBA postseason Tuesday night, but it didn't happen the way they wanted it to. It wasn't by their own doing, but rather by an assist from the Phoenix Mercury .

The Liberty lost the Golden State Valkyries 66-58 but still earned a playoff berth because the Indiana Fever lost to the Mercury earlier Tuesday.

"We just lost the game. Yeah, we're in the playoffs, but we still lost the game," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.

New York faltered on its first three opportunities to clinch a playoff spot by losing and because other game results didn't go its way. But entering Tuesday's game against Golden State, the team wasn't focused on those details.

The Liberty have lost four of their past six games and overall h

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