Phoenix Mercury dominate New York Liberty 86-60 to force Game 3 in WNBA playoff series
TOI World Desk | TOI Global Desk | Sep 19, 2025, 03:57 IST
The Phoenix Mercury bounced back from a Game 1 loss, downing the New York Liberty 86-60 in Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs. Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas scored 15 points each, while Dewanna Bonner and Kahleah Cooper added 14 apiece. The Liberty struggled with 16 turnovers and poor shooting, leaving Game 3 a winner-take-all showdown in Phoenix.
The Phoenix Mercury downed the New York Liberty 86-60 on Wednesday night, tying their best-of-three WNBA playoff series.
The Phoenix Mercury bounced back stronger after a frustrating 76-69 loss in game one of the playoff series. Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas scored 15 points apiece, helping the Mercury take home a dominant win and keeping the playoff series alive.
The tiebreaker game 3 of the playoff series will take place on Friday night in Phoenix.
The Mercury players were coming off their worst shooting game after the game 1 loss, but things turned the other way around on Wednesday night. Both Dewanna Bonner and Kahleah Cooper contributed 14 points each to secure the win against Liberty.
Breanna Stewart returned to play game 2 after spraining the MCL in her left knee during game 1 on Sunday. The two-time MVP played for 20 minutes and scored 6 points with two rebounds, two assists and three turnovers. “I was happy with the way that I was able to kind of really, just move, and really, I just need to be a little bit more confident in all of my things. But I wasn’t in pain or anything like that,” Stewart said when asked about the knee.
The Liberty were forced into 16 turnovers and were limited to just 30% shooting from the field. Sabrina Ionescu, who shot 93% from free throw during the regular season, had a rough shooting night; she missed four free throws before finally sinking one and finished the game with only 9 points.
Stewart was brutally honest when talking about the abysmal performance with reporters. “They came in and they embarrassed us on our home court,” she said. “Now we have to go back there for Game 3. Winner take all. If we're not ready for that, then we shouldn't be here.”
Now the Liberty are just one game away from being eliminated from the playoffs and have 48 left hours to come up with a plan for game 3.
The Phoenix Mercury bounced back stronger after a frustrating 76-69 loss in game one of the playoff series. Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas scored 15 points apiece, helping the Mercury take home a dominant win and keeping the playoff series alive.
The tiebreaker game 3 of the playoff series will take place on Friday night in Phoenix.
The Mercury players were coming off their worst shooting game after the game 1 loss, but things turned the other way around on Wednesday night. Both Dewanna Bonner and Kahleah Cooper contributed 14 points each to secure the win against Liberty.
Breanna Stewart returned to play game 2 after spraining the MCL in her left knee during game 1 on Sunday. The two-time MVP played for 20 minutes and scored 6 points with two rebounds, two assists and three turnovers. “I was happy with the way that I was able to kind of really, just move, and really, I just need to be a little bit more confident in all of my things. But I wasn’t in pain or anything like that,” Stewart said when asked about the knee.
The Liberty were forced into 16 turnovers and were limited to just 30% shooting from the field. Sabrina Ionescu, who shot 93% from free throw during the regular season, had a rough shooting night; she missed four free throws before finally sinking one and finished the game with only 9 points.
Stewart was brutally honest when talking about the abysmal performance with reporters. “They came in and they embarrassed us on our home court,” she said. “Now we have to go back there for Game 3. Winner take all. If we're not ready for that, then we shouldn't be here.”
Now the Liberty are just one game away from being eliminated from the playoffs and have 48 left hours to come up with a plan for game 3.