Game Summary
The Phoenix Mercury delivered a commanding performance at Barclays Center on Wednesday night, dismantling the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty 86-60 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. The 26-point victory evened the best-of-three series at 1-1 and forced a decisive Game 3 in Phoenix.
Playing before a sellout crowd of 17,017 fans at the Barclays Center, the Mercury bounced back from their overtime loss in Game 1 with one of their most dominant playoff performances in recent years. The win marked Phoenix’s first playoff victory since 2021 and represented the third-largest margin of victory for the Mercury during the 2025 season.
Top Performers: Player Statistics Breakdown
Phoenix Mercury Leading Scorers
Satou Sabally – 15 Points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 4 Steals Sabally rebounded impressively from her Game 1 struggles, where she shot just 2-for-17 from the field. In Game 2, she demonstrated remarkable resilience, finishing 5-for-11 from the field and hitting 2-of-4 three-pointers. The forward’s complete performance included excellent defensive play with four steals, helping set the tone for Phoenix’s victory. Sabally played 30 minutes and posted a team-high plus-20 rating.
Alyssa Thomas – 15 Points, 6 Rebounds, 7 Assists Thomas matched Sabally’s scoring output while orchestrating the Mercury offense with seven assists. She shot efficiently at 6-for-13 from the field and controlled the pace of the game throughout her 26 minutes of action. Thomas contributed across all statistical categories with her plus-17 rating reflecting her overall impact on the contest.
Kahleah Copper – 14 Points, 2 Rebounds Copper provided consistent scoring punch, converting 5-of-9 field goal attempts and going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Her efficient 29-minute performance resulted in a game-leading plus-25 rating, demonstrating her impact during her time on the court.
DeWanna Bonner – 14 Points, 8 Rebounds Coming off the bench, veteran forward Bonner delivered crucial minutes with an ultra-efficient 6-for-9 shooting performance. She added a three-pointer and grabbed eight boards in 21 minutes, posting a remarkable plus-29 rating that highlighted her effectiveness in extending Phoenix’s lead.
New York Liberty Scoring Leaders
Emma Meesseman – 11 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Assists The Belgian forward led the Liberty in scoring with 11 points off the bench, shooting 4-for-9 from the field. Meesseman broke New York’s prolonged third-quarter scoring drought with a basket with 1:35 remaining in the period. She played 18 minutes and grabbed six rebounds while trying to spark the Liberty offense.
Sabrina Ionescu – 9 Points, 4 Rebounds, 3 Assists The star guard struggled with her shooting touch, finishing just 3-for-13 from the field and 1-for-8 from three-point range. Ionescu also had difficulties at the free-throw line, converting only 2-of-6 attempts. Despite her shooting woes, she played 26 minutes and attempted to facilitate for her teammates with three assists.
Natasha Cloud – 8 Points, 2 Rebounds, 2 Assists Cloud provided some perimeter scoring with 2-of-4 three-point shooting but finished 2-for-5 overall from the field. She played 28 minutes and posted a minus-23 plus/minus rating in the blowout loss.
Jonquel Jones – 7 Points, 13 Rebounds The Liberty center led her team in rebounding with 13 boards, including 11 defensive rebounds, but struggled offensively with 3-for-9 shooting. Jones also blocked two shots in her 22 minutes of play.
Breanna Stewart – 6 Points, 2 Rebounds, 2 Assists Playing through an MCL sprain suffered in Game 1, Stewart was limited to just 20 minutes and proved largely ineffective. The superstar forward managed only six points on 2-for-6 shooting, well below her usual production. Her mobility appeared compromised throughout the game.
Team Statistics Comparison
Phoenix Mercury Team Stats
- Field Goal Percentage: 48% (34-71)
- Three-Point Percentage: 29% (7-24)
- Free Throw Percentage: 92% (11-12)
- Total Rebounds: 39 (8 offensive, 31 defensive)
- Assists: 22
- Turnovers: 8
- Steals: 10
- Blocks: 2
New York Liberty Team Stats
- Field Goal Percentage: 30% (19-63)
- Three-Point Percentage: 23% (6-26)
- Free Throw Percentage: 64% (16-25)
- Total Rebounds: 36 (9 offensive, 27 defensive)
- Assists: 14
- Turnovers: 15
- Steals: 5
- Blocks: 4
Game Flow and Key Moments
First Quarter: Even Start
The game began competitively with both teams trading baskets throughout the opening period. Phoenix and New York each scored 25 points in the first quarter, setting up what appeared to be a closely contested playoff battle. The sellout crowd, which included celebrities Spike Lee, Tracee Ellis Ross, and WNBA legend Sue Bird, provided energetic support for the home team.
Second Quarter: Mercury Take Control
Phoenix seized control in the second quarter with a devastating 13-0 run. The Mercury led 36-30 before the run extended their advantage to 19 points with just under three minutes remaining in the half. New York managed to cut the deficit slightly before halftime, with Natasha Cloud hitting a corner three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to bring the score to 51-37 at intermission. The crowd erupted on the Cloud three-pointer, momentarily energizing the Liberty faithful. However, New York’s first-half struggles from the free-throw line prevented them from cutting the deficit further.
Third Quarter: Defensive Dominance
The Mercury opened the third quarter with six unanswered points, extending their lead to 20 points and effectively putting the game out of reach. New York’s offense completely stalled during this period, missing their first 12 field goal attempts. The Liberty went without a basket until Emma Meesseman finally scored with 1:35 remaining in the quarter. Phoenix outscored New York 18-10 in the third period to take a 69-47 lead into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter: Mercury Cruise to Victory
With the outcome no longer in doubt, both teams played reserves extensively in the fourth quarter. Phoenix outscored the Liberty 17-13 in the final period to secure the emphatic 26-point victory. The Mercury’s starters combined for just 32 points, highlighting the complete team effort in the blowout win.
Impact of Breanna Stewart’s Injury
Breanna Stewart’s presence in the lineup provided an emotional boost for the Liberty before tip-off, as the superstar forward was able to suit up despite spraining her MCL in overtime of Game 1. However, the injury significantly limited her effectiveness. Stewart played just 20 minutes and scored only six points on 2-for-6 shooting, a far cry from her typical All-Star production. Her restricted mobility was evident throughout the contest, and the Liberty offense struggled without their primary scoring threat operating at full capacity.
Phoenix’s Shooting Efficiency
The Mercury’s shooting performance represented a significant improvement from Game 1, where Phoenix players felt they missed numerous makeable shots in their overtime defeat. The team shot 48% from the field in Game 2 compared to their season average, demonstrating the offensive execution that had been missing in the series opener. Phoenix’s 92% free-throw shooting proved particularly crucial, as they converted 11-of-12 attempts from the charity stripe.
Liberty’s Offensive Struggles
New York’s offensive performance was historically poor, particularly in the third quarter. The Liberty shot just 30% from the field for the game and an abysmal 23% from three-point range. Their starting lineup managed only 32 combined points, placing enormous pressure on the bench to provide scoring. The team’s 15 turnovers also contributed to their offensive woes, as Phoenix converted those mistakes into easy transition opportunities.
Playoff Series Context
This victory represented a crucial momentum shift in the best-of-three series. After dropping Game 1 in overtime on their home court, Phoenix needed to respond with a strong performance in Brooklyn to force a deciding Game 3. The Mercury accomplished that goal emphatically, using superior shooting, ball movement, and defensive intensity to overwhelm the defending champions.
The decisive Game 3 was scheduled for Friday night at Phoenix’s home arena, giving the Mercury home-court advantage for the series-deciding contest. The winner would advance to face the Minnesota Lynx in the next round of the WNBA playoffs.
Game Information and Officials
- Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Attendance: 17,017 (sellout)
- Broadcast: ESPN, WNBA League Pass
- Game Time: 8:00 PM EST
- Officials: Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, Maj Forsberg, Agon Abazi, Jenna Reneau
Notable Bench Contributions
Phoenix Mercury Bench
- Kathryn Westbeld: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists (4-6 FG, 2-4 3PT)
- Sami Whitcomb: 3 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
New York Liberty Bench
- Isabelle Harrison: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
- Kennedy Burke: 6 points
- Rebekah Gardner: 3 points
Historical Context
This game marked several significant milestones for the Phoenix Mercury franchise. The victory ended a playoff drought dating back to 2021, when the Mercury last won a postseason game. The 26-point margin of victory also ranked as one of the largest playoff wins in franchise history and demonstrated the team’s capacity to respond under pressure after dropping the series opener.
For the Liberty, the loss represented a stunning setback for the defending WNBA champions. After winning Game 1 in overtime, New York appeared poised to eliminate Phoenix on their home court. Instead, the Liberty suffered one of their most lopsided defeats of the season, with star Breanna Stewart describing the performance as “embarrassing” in post-game comments.
Looking Ahead to Game 3
The series shifted back to Phoenix for Friday’s decisive Game 3, with both teams facing critical adjustments. The Mercury gained tremendous confidence from their dominant performance and would enjoy home-court advantage for the elimination game. Phoenix would look to maintain their offensive efficiency while continuing to pressure New York’s ball handlers.
The Liberty, meanwhile, needed to regroup quickly and rediscover their offensive rhythm. Questions remained about Breanna Stewart’s health and mobility entering Game 3. New York’s coaching staff would need to find solutions for their shooting struggles and turnover issues while attempting to slow down Phoenix’s balanced scoring attack.
The winner of Game 3 would advance to face the Minnesota Lynx, who finished the regular season with the Western Conference’s best record at 34-10. The stakes could not be higher for both franchises as they prepared for their season-deciding contest.
Key Takeaways
- Satou Sabally’s Redemption: After one of the worst shooting games of her career in Game 1, Sabally bounced back with an efficient, well-rounded performance that proved crucial to Phoenix’s victory.
- Balanced Scoring: Four Mercury players scored in double figures, demonstrating the depth and offensive versatility that makes Phoenix dangerous in playoff competition.
- Defensive Intensity: Phoenix’s 10 steals and ability to force 15 Liberty turnovers showed superior defensive effort and ball pressure throughout the contest.
- Stewart’s Limitations: Breanna Stewart’s MCL injury proved more impactful than anticipated, significantly hampering the Liberty’s offensive capabilities and forcing role players into expanded responsibilities.
- Third Quarter Collapse: New York’s inability to score during the critical third-quarter stretch sealed their fate, as they missed 12 consecutive field goal attempts during the decisive period.
- Home Court Advantage: The series’ return to Phoenix for Game 3 gave the Mercury a significant advantage entering the elimination game.
Final Thoughts
The Phoenix Mercury’s 86-60 demolition of the New York Liberty in Game 2 completely shifted the momentum of this first-round playoff series. After falling in overtime in Game 1, Phoenix responded with arguably their best performance of the season when facing elimination pressure. The balanced scoring, defensive intensity, and efficient shooting demonstrated why the Mercury remained dangerous despite their status as underdogs against the defending champions.
For New York, the crushing defeat raised serious questions about their ability to defend their championship. With Breanna Stewart compromised by injury and the team’s offensive rhythm completely disrupted, the Liberty faced the prospect of elimination on the road in a hostile environment. Friday’s Game 3 in Phoenix promised to be a fierce battle between two determined teams with championship aspirations hanging in the balance.
For more WNBA playoff coverage, player statistics, and game analysis, stay tuned for updates on the Mercury-Liberty series and all playoff matchups.
