It’s been a long few years for the New York Liberty. They’ve welcomed new faces. They’ve had more downs than they’ve had ups. They’ve welcomed home Epiphanny Prince. And now, after a three-year drought, head coach Bill Laimbeer’s squad is headed back to the WNBA postseason.

The Liberty clinched a postseason berth with its win over the Minnesota Lynx Friday night – the first time under the direction of Laimbeer. The last time the Liberty made the postseason was in 2012, when they lost to the Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

WE'RE IN. #NYLIBERTY pic.twitter.com/URuPXB8GWe

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 29, 2015

So what’s been the difference this season? First and foremost, the Liberty have caused havoc on the defensive side of the floor. Laimbeer has enforced a defensive mentality similar to the one he played with during his days as a member of the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons teams.

“[Laimbeer] just has this grit to him,” said Liberty guard Candice Wiggins, “this spirit that when you’re playing for [Laimbeer], there’s nothing soft about him at all, there’s nothing soft about the way we play. I really love that he has such a big imprint on our identity.”

New York boasts a league-best Defensive Rating, per Basketball-Reference.com, at 92.3. That mark is 3.6 points better than the second-best rating of 95.9, which is held by the Minnesota Lynx.

The rotations have been crisp all season long and the paint has consistently been clogged by big, wise defensive players like Carolyn Swords and rookie Kiah Stokes. Laimbeer’s insertion of Swords into the starting lineup – paired with Epiphanny Prince’s return – sparked the Liberty’s surge to the top of the conference.

But for as good as they’ve been defensively, they’ve also managed to put up some impressive offensive performances. Epiphanny Prince and Tina Charles have both earned multiple Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for their work on that end of the floor.

Prince has thrived in her new home, averaging 15.8 points per game — her highest average since 2012. She’s scored in double figures in 17 of her 18 games played with New York. Prince has combined with Charles to be come the Liberty’s best inside-out threat.

Charles has dominant and has given opponents fits with her ability to step out and hit shots as well as score from the post. She’s averaging 17.8 points per game – the most since 2013 when she averaged 18 per game. And she’s also recorded 10 double-doubles.

Now, as the Liberty close out the season and set their sights on the postseason, the reality that their goal is within reach is starting to set in. The hard work has paid off, but they know there’s still more work yet to be done.

“I know for me it would be my first and a lot of people’s first playoff run,” said center Avery Warley-Talbert. “So, it just means a lot in this locker room, I think. When your team has the same dream and the same goal, it’s an awesome feeling.”