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Liberty defeat Fever, Mercedes Russell makes third appearance
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- Liberty defeat Fever, Mercedes Russell makes third appearance
New York (23-15) defeated Indiana (24-14), 109-102, Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Former Tennessee women's basketball player Mercedes Russell made her third appearance for the Fever since signing with the team on Aug. 10. She played three minutes and did not convert her only field goal attempt.
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Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell totaled 25 points to lead all scorers. Aliyah Boston scored 22 points, while Caitlin Clark finished with 21 points for Indiana.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 20 points, while Leonie Fiebich scored 20 points and Jonquel Jones finished with 19 points.
Russell was selected in the first round of the 2018 WNBA draft (No. 22 overall) by New York. She played for the Liberty (2018), Seattle (2018-24) and Los Angeles (2025). Russell is a two-time WNBA champion (2018, 2020).
The former Lady Vol also played professionally in Turkey and China.
Russell played at Tennessee from 2013-18. She appeared in 120 games, including 87 starts. Russell is from Springfield High School in Springfield, Oregon.
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Indiana will next play at Chicago on Sunday. Tipoff between the Fever and Sky is slated for 7 p.m. EDT at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
More: Fever sign former Tennessee basketball center during WNBA season
June 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rae Burrell (12) loses control of the ball as Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
June 22, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half at State Farm Arena.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
July 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Los Angeles Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) goes to the basket as Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) defend during the first quarter at Target Center.
(Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes the ball by Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
May 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots against Seattle Storm guard Flau'jae Johnson (4) and forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Aug. 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) looks to pass the ball against Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud (9) during the first half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Sky during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
June 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena.
(Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)
Aug. 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
July 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots the ball as Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) defends in the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
June 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
June 19, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against the Connecticut Sun during the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)
July 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) reacts against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images)
Isabelle Harrison #21 of the Toronto Tempo drives to the basket to score in the second half against the Washington Mystics on June 12, 2026 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.
(Jamie Sabau, Getty Images)
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) shoots over Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
June 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) drives to the basket past Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Target Center.
(Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images)
May 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) is fouled by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) as she drives to the basket in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) and guard Marina Mabrey (3) defend against Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rae Burrell (12) loses control of the ball as Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
1
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rae Burrell (12) loses control of the ball as Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
2
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks to pass the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
3
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 22, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half at State Farm Arena.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
4
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball against Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
5
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Los Angeles Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) goes to the basket as Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) defend during the first quarter at Target Center.
(Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
6
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes the ball by Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
7
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
May 17, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots against Seattle Storm guard Flau'jae Johnson (4) and forward Jordan Horston (23) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
8
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
Aug. 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) looks to pass the ball against Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud (9) during the first half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena.
(Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
9
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after making a three point basket against the Chicago Sky during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
10
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena.
(Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)
11
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
Aug. 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
12
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots the ball as Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) defends in the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
13
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California; LA Sparks guard-forward Rae Burrell (12) shoots the ball against Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
14
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 19, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) shoots against the Connecticut Sun during the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena.
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)
15
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
July 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) reacts against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images)
16
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
Isabelle Harrison #21 of the Toronto Tempo drives to the basket to score in the second half against the Washington Mystics on June 12, 2026 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.
(Jamie Sabau, Getty Images)
17
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas; Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) shoots over Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) during the second half at College Park Center.
(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
18
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) drives to the basket past Seattle Storm forward Jordan Horston (23) in the first half at Target Center.
(Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images)
19
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
May 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) is fouled by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) as she drives to the basket in the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
20
/20
PHOTOS: Former Lady Vols in 2026 WNBA season
June 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) and guard Marina Mabrey (3) defend against Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the second half at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
(John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Liberty defeat Fever, Mercedes Russell makes third appearance
