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Mercury crush defending champion Liberty to force Game 3 in WNBA playoffs
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- Mercury crush defending champion Liberty to force Game 3 in WNBA playoffs
The Phoenix Mercury needed a win on the road to keep their playoff lives alive. The Mercury not only got the victory, they completely dismantled the defending champion New York Liberty in the process.
The No. 4 seed Mercury routed the No. 5 seed Liberty 86-60 in Game 2 on Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, marking the Mercury's first playoff win since the 2021 WNBA Finals. The best-of-three first-round WNBA playoff series now shifts back to Phoenix for a decisive Game 3 on Friday (TBD, ESPN2).
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"It's a series for the reason," Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said. "We were disappointed in the way that we shot in the first game. We knew today was going to be a different day. We were just going to come out there for 40 mintues and give them everything we had."
Five Mercury players scored double-digits in the win, led by Phoenix's Big 3 — Thomas (15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Satou Sabally (15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals) and Kahleah Copper (14 points). DeWanna Bonner (14) and Kathryn Westbeld (10) combined for 24 of Phoenix's 27 bench points.
The Mercury's defense held the Liberty to 60 points, their second lowest total of the season, and made the defending champions look hapless on Wednesday. New York shot a season-low 30.2% from the field and 23.1 % from the 3-point line. None of New York's starters scored double digit points.
There were questions surrounding Liberty forward Breanna Stewart entering Wednesday's matchup after she suffered a MCL sprain in her left knee in Game 1. She was limited to six points in 20 minutes.
GAME 1: New York Liberty beat Phoenix Mercury in thrilling Game 1 overtime win
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BREANNA STEWART INJURY UPDATE: Liberty star a game-time decision for next playoff game
The Mercury outscored the Liberty in the paint (38-22) and in transition (20-2). The Liberty also gave up 15 turnovers for 30 Mercury points. Here's a recap for Game 2 on Wednesday:
End of Q3: Mercury 69, Liberty 47
The Mercury's lead swelled to as many as 24 in the third quarter and Phoenix is taking a 22-point advantage over the Liberty into the fourth quarter. New York shot 2-of-10 from the field in the third quarter, with the first field goal coming with 1:35 remaining in the quarter, in addition to 0-of-3 from 3.
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Liberty forward Breanna Stewart is playing with a sprained MCL in her left knee. She's been held to six points, two rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of play. Emma Meesseman is the only Liberty player to reach double-digits with 11 points off the bench.
Alyssa Thomas (15 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), Satou Sabally (12 points, 4 assists, 4 steals) and Kahleah Copper (14 points, 2 rebounds) lead the Phoenix Mercury in scoring.
Halftime: Mercury 51, Liberty 37
The Phoenix Mercury dominated the second quarter, outscoring the defending champion Liberty 26-12 in the frame to take a 14-point lead into halftime.
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Phoenix's big three — Alyssa Thomas (13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Satou Sabally (12 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Kahleah Copper (12 points) — all have double-digit points in the first half. Phoenix's bench added 12.
The Mercury's defense has been smothering, holding the Liberty to 37.1% shooting from the field and 5-of-15 from the 3-point line. Phoenix is outscoring New York in the paint (24-12) and in transition (14-2).
No Liberty player has reached double-digits yet. Sabrina Ionescu has a team-high nine points, four rebounds and two assists.
What time is Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty ?
The New York Liberty host the Phoenix Mercury for Game 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
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How to watch Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty: TV, stream
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Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
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Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
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TV channel: ESPN
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Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Mercury forward Satou Sabally called for technical
Emotions are running high in Barclays Center as the Mercury fight for their season on Wednesday and tempers appeared to boil over, resulting in a technical foul for Mercury forward Satou Sabally. The technical foul was called with 1:53 remaining in the second quarter after Sabally and Liberty guard Natasha Cloud fought for possession of a loose ball. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts called a timeout, but Sabally didn't appear to be happy with Cloud's level off physicality.
Phoenix Mercury goes on 15-0 run to take largest lead
The Phoenix Mercury went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead over the New York Liberty, marking the largest of the game by either team. Phoenix is outscoring New York 24-5 in the second quarter with 2:48 remaining. Mercury forward Satou Sabally and guard Kahleah Copper are each up to 12 points.
End of Q1: Liberty 25, Mercury 25
We are all tied up after one quarter. The Liberty led by as many as six points, but the Mercury surged back to take the lead before the quarter ended with both teams at 25.
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"We came out like we don't want our season to end," said Kahleah Copper, who had a team-high six points in the first quarter.
Seven different players scored for the Mercury, highlighting Phoenix's league-leading depth. Alyssa Thomas added five points, three rebounds and two assists, while Kathryn Westbeld had five points off the bench. However, the Mercury's struggles from beyond the arc continued. After going 6-of-26 from the 3-point line in Game 1, the Mercury have started 2-of-6 from 3.
Liberty center Jonquel Jones has seven points, while Emma Meesseman added seven points and two rebounds in five minutes off the bench. However, New York has left some points on the board at the free throw line (2-of-7).
New York Liberty off to a fast start
Game 2 is underway and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones can't miss, scoring eight of the Liberty's 14 first-quarter points, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 from the 3-point line. She's also getting it done on the defensive end with two blocks.
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WNBA starting lineups today
Here are the starting lineups for Wednesday's Game 2:
Phoenix Mercury starting lineup
Head coach: Nate Tibbetts
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0 Satou Sabally | F 6' 4" - Oregon
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2 Kahleah Copper | G 6' 1" - Rutgers
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4 Natasha Mack | C 6' 4" - Oklahoma State
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8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5' 11" - Cameroon
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25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6' 2" - Maryland
New York Liberty starting lineup
Head coach: Sandy Brondello
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9 Natasha Cloud | G 5' 10" - St. Joseph's
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13 Leonie Fiebich | F 6' 4" - Germany
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20 Sabrina Ionescu | G 5' 11" - Oregon
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30 Breanna Stewart | F 6' 4" - UConn
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35 Jonquel Jones | C 6' 6" - George Washington
Is Breanna Stewart playing? New York Liberty forward injury update
New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart told reporters during Wednesday's shootaround that she was diagnosed with a sprained MCL in her left knee. She said she plans to play in Game 2, even though she is listed as questionable. — Elizabeth Flores
Phoenix Mercury injury report
The Phoenix Mercury have all players available for Game 2 on Wednesday.
Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty predictions
Who will win Game 2 in Brooklyn, New York? We asked the USA TODAY staff:
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Heather Burns:Liberty 83, Mercury 80
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Cydney Henderson:Mercury 89, Liberty 82
X factor: New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud
Natasha Cloud called Phoenix home last year, and now she's facing against her former team as a member of the New York Liberty. Cloud turned in a game-high 23 points, six rebounds and five assists in the Liberty's 76-69 overtime win over the Mercury on Sunday. Cloud shot 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from the 3-point line and her nine field goals were the most she's recorded for the Liberty this season.
New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) smiles during action against the Phoenix Mercury in the first half of Game One of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs first round at PHX Arena on Sept. 14, 2025.
New York Liberty arrive to Game 2 in style
The Liberty made a fashion statement heading into Game 2. Liberty forward Breanna Stewart rocked a briefcase because she means business, while Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison let every one know that the "WNBA been popping." Check out all the Liberty arrivals:
Spike Lee is in the house to cheer on Liberty
Game 2 between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty is sure to draw a star-studded crowd. New York superfan Spike Lee, who turned out to Brooklyn's Barclays Center 90 minutes before tipoff. The Academy Award-winning director is a mainstay at New York sporting events and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's SuperFan Gallery in October 2024.
Emma Meesseman: New York Liberty forward stats
The addition of Emma Meesseman has yielded instant dividends for the New York Liberty, as she averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 games (12 starts) in New York. Meesseman has championship experience — she won an WNBA title with the Washington Mystics in 2019 and was named WNBA Finals MVP.
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Phoenix Mercury guard Satou Sabally stats
Sabally is looking to bounce back from a particularly rough shooting night in Game 1. She recorded nine points in the Mercury's loss to the Liberty on Sunday, shooting 2-of-17 from the field and 1-of-10 from the 3-point line. Sabally averaged 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 39 games (all starts), shooting 40.5% from the field and 32.1%.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas stats
Thomas averaged 15.4 points, a league-leading 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 39 games (all starts) this season. The 33-year-old recorded eight triple-doubles this season, a WNBA single-season record. Thomas, who was traded to the Mercury in February following 11 seasons in Connecticut , nearly reached a triple-double in Phoenix's Game 1 loss, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
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New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu stats
Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season, shooting 40.1% from the field and a career-low 29.9% from the 3-point line. Ionescu had 16 points, seven assists and two blocks in Game 1, shooting 6-of-18 from the field and 3-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty schedule
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Game 1: Liberty 76, Mercury 69 OT
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Game 2: Mercury at Liberty, 8 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
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Game 3: Liberty at Mercury, TBD Friday (ESPN2)
2025 WNBA Finals schedule
*if necessary
| Date |
Game |
Time (ET) |
TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/3/25 |
1 |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| 10/5/25 |
2 |
3:00PM |
ABC |
| 10/8/25 |
3 |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| 10/10/25 |
4 |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| 10/12/25 |
5* |
3:00PM |
ABC? |
| 10/15/25 |
6* |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
| 10/17/25 |
7* |
8:00PM |
ESPN |
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA playoffs: Mercury crush defending champ Liberty to force Game 3
