PHOENIX — The New York Liberty’s title defense starts now.
The No. 5 seed Liberty tipoff the 2025 WNBA playoffs with a first-round matchup against the No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury Sunday, and unlike New York’s 2024 championship run that ended with the team claiming its first title in franchise history, the Liberty won’t have home-court advantage this postseason.
New York has a losing record on the road this season (10-12), including a pair of losses to the Mercury, who made 18 3-pointers in a win over the Liberty on June 25 at PHX Arena. (The Mercury are 15-7 at home.) The Liberty have navigated a string of injuries to their superstar trio of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu, but New York’s Big 3 are available heading into the postseason.
‘Experience is the thing that you fall back on when the going gets tough and things aren’t going your way. It’s what brings the team back together, because you have a sense of awareness of what’s coming,’ said Stewart, who had 24 points to close the season against the Chicago Sky on Sept. 11. ‘The playoffs are an emotional roller-coaster, emotionally and physically. So to have that experience… is really important going forward.’
The Liberty will be tasked with slowing down MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas, who set a single-season record with eight triple-doubles this season. Her eight triple-doubles surpassed the previous record (six) she set in 2023 in Connecticut. No other player in WNBA history has more than four in a career.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Liberty-Mercury game on Sunday:
End of Q3: Mercury 57, Liberty 55
Phoenix’s Kathryn Westbeldknocked down a 3-pointer with 18.7 seconds remaining to give the Mercury a 57-55 lead to close the third quarter. Kahleah Copper has a team-high 11 points and four personal fouls, while Alyssa Thomas has 10 points and six assists. The Mercury are 23-1 this season when tied or leading after the third quarter.
Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart each have 14 points for the Liberty. Stewart surpassed Lindsay Whalen (953) for sixth place on the all-time playoffs points list with 963 points and counting.
Mercury star in foul trouble
Mercury guard Kahleah Copper picked up her fourth personal foul with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. She remained in the game, where she has a team-high 11 points, one rebound and one assist. No other Mercury player has scored double digits yet.
Halftime: Liberty 44, Mercury 43
The Liberty have a one-point advantage over the Mercury heading into halftime following a closely contested first half that has featured nine lead chances and seven ties.
Three of the Liberty’s starters have reached double digits, led by a game-high 13 points from Natasha Cloud. Sabrina Ionesco and Breanna Stewart each added 11 points. The Liberty have used their size and controlled the boards through the first half, grabbing 21 rebounds (four offensive) to the Mercury’s 13 rebounds. New York is shooting 48.6% from the field and 5-of-16 from 3.
Kahleah Copper is the only Mercury player in double digits with 11 points. Satou Sabally added seven points and four rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas is more than halfway to a double-double with eight points and six assists. The Mercury are shooting 43.6% from the field and 4-of-12 from the 3-point line, including Monique Akoa Makani’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the second quarter.
Phoenix Suns stars in the building
The star-studded crowd at PHX Arena includes several Phoenix Suns players, including Dillon Brooks, who was seated courtside for Sunday’s matchup.
Sabrina Ionescu heating up
The Liberty are starting to heat up from the 3-point line. Sabrina Ionescu knocked down two 3-pointers in a matter of 43 seconds in the second quarter, giving New York a 23-21 lead over Phoenix. Ionescu has eight points, three assists and two rebounds, while the Liberty are 4-of-13 from the 3-point line.
End of Q1: Liberty 17, Mercury 13
The Liberty led by as many as nine points in the first quarter and have a four-point advantage over the Mercury entering the second quarter. Jonquel Jones and Natasha Cloud each have five points. Breanna Stewart added four points. The Liberty are collectively shooting 36.8% from the field and 2-of-9 from 3.
DeWanna Bonner was a spark plug off the bench for the Mercury and scored four points in five minutes, including a transition layup with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter after swiping the ball from Cloud. Kahleah Copper added four points. The Mercury are shooting 31.6% from the field and only 1-of-8 from three.
What time is New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury?
The Minnesota Lynx host the Golden State Valkyries at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at PHX Arena in Phoenix. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Phoenix Mercury starting lineup
Head coach: Nate Tibbetts
0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland
New York Liberty starting lineup
Head coach: Sandy Brondello
9 Natasha Cloud | G 5′ 10′ – St. Joseph’s
13 Leonie Fiebich | F 6′ 4′ – Germany
20 Sabrina Ionescu | G 5′ 11′ – Oregon
30 Breanna Stewart | F 6′ 4′ – UConn
35 Jonquel Jones | C 6′ 6′ – George Washington
New York Liberty finally get healthy, just in time for WNBA playoffs
CHICAGO — Another title, or at least a third consecutive trip to the WNBA Finals, seemed to be a given as the New York Liberty opened the season with nine straight wins, most of them decisive. And then the injuries piled up.
Jonquel Jones missed almost two weeks with a sprained ankle. And then another month when she aggravated the injury. Breanna Stewart missed a month with a bone bruise. Natasha Cloud missed a game after breaking her nose. Sabrina Ionescu just returned Tuesday after missing four games with a toe injury. Nyara Sabally has played only 17 games this season because of knee issues. Leonie Fiebich avoided time on the DL, but she missed almost a month while playing for Germany at EuroBasket.
How to watch New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury: TV, stream
Time: 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)
Location: PHX Arena (Phoenix)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Mercury vs. Liberty WNBA Playoffs schedule
Game 1: Liberty at Mercury, 2 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN)
Game 2: Mercury at Liberty, 8 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Liberty at Mercury, TBD Friday (ESPN2)
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