Liberty Defeats Mercury in Exciting Encounter
Sabrina Ionescu was a standout performer, scoring 29 points, while Jonquel Jones contributed with 20 points and 11 rebounds, as the Liberty secured an 89-76 win against the Mercury at Barclays Center on Friday night.
This late July game—only the second for Liberty post-All-Star break—had a palpable playoff atmosphere.
For both teams, the stakes were higher than just another win. After losing the first two encounters with the Mercury, Liberty needed this victory to avoid surrendering the season series and, potentially, a tiebreaker situation if they meet again.
Mercury’s coach Nate Tibbets viewed the matchup as a benchmark, assessing how his team has fared against one of the league’s top contenders, particularly with Karea’s return to health.
The crowd at Barclays Center, numbering over 17,000, amplified the playoff feel with their enthusiasm, especially during the “Pride Knight” celebrations.
In the game’s final 11 minutes, Liberty stepped up their game, marking their fifth straight victory.
With this win, Liberty (17-6) ranks second in the WNBA, trailing first-place Lynx (22-4) by 3½ games and leading third-place Mercury (15-9) by the same margin.
On offense, Liberty was flowing, though they missed some early opportunities that they usually capitalize on.
Defensively, they struggled at times against the tenacious Mercury, finding themselves down by as much as 12 points in the first half. Yet, as they’ve done before, they managed to claw back from that deficit.
The halftime score was deadlocked, setting the stage for a fierce second half.
While Mercury drew first blood after the break, Liberty responded strongly.
With a burst of energy, Jones, Ionescu, and the team’s defensive play sparked a 7-0 run in the closing seconds of the third quarter, establishing their largest lead to that point.
Ionescu hit a deep three-pointer, and on the opposite end, Natasha Cloud made a key defensive play, stripping the ball from Satou Sabally.
Jones capped off the third quarter with a long two-pointer, giving Liberty a 67-59 lead.
What had the makings of a nail-biter turned into a comfortable win for the Liberty.
Liberty and Mercury are set to face each other again later this season on August 30 in a matchup that could have implications for the playoffs.
