The evening kicked off on a positive note. However, there were early worries about whether Breanna Stewart would be available for Game 2 against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday at Barclays Center. Ultimately, Liberty was without her for the game.
This star forward had been playing with a sprained MCL in her left knee, and she had fought through injuries to help the team in their first-round series, trying to secure a spot in the semifinals.
But, unfortunately, it didn’t yield the desired results.
With only 20 minutes of play and a lack of defensive presence from the two-time MVP, Liberty suffered a disappointing loss of 86-60. This tied the series and left the home crowd feeling let down during what was expected to be their sole guaranteed playoff game of the year.
Now, Liberty heads into Game 3 on Friday in Phoenix, where their season and title hopes will be on the line.
“We’re a better team than what we showed today, so it’s really unfortunate,” said coach Sandy Brondello after the match. “It’s a shame to perform like that in front of our home fans, but we’re still in it, and we’ll go out there to win in Phoenix.”
By the fourth quarter, it felt as though Liberty had given up, exhausting any remaining energy. They struggled to score, with just 10 points in the third quarter, while the Mercury surged with 22 points.
At times, Liberty couldn’t get their shots to fall. Other times, they just looked off. They managed a dismal 31% shooting from the field and went 2 for 14 from three-point range during the second and third quarters. To make matters worse, they turned the ball over 15 times, giving Phoenix ample opportunities.
It was indeed a striking scene as fans in Brooklyn witnessed what could be a final glimpse of this Liberty team before the offseason chaos kicks in.
“We recognize how important our fans are and what we’ve built here,” remarked Sabrina Ionescu, who scored only nine points. “I believe we realize we need to step up our game in the next outing because this isn’t how we want to leave them… they deserve to see us play better.”
Stewart managed just six points, but she certainly wasn’t alone in her struggles. Emma Meesseman was the leading scorer for Liberty, contributing a modest 11 points. Ionescu’s performance now stands at 13 for 3, including 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Phoenix excelled in the paint, outscoring Liberty 38 to 22 and showcasing a noticeable advantage in fast-break points, 20 to just 2 for New York. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally both led for Phoenix with 15 points each, alongside Carly Copper and Dewanna Bonner, who also added 15 points.
The excitement of the first quarter saw the teams tied at 25-25, but as the second quarter unfolded, Liberty began to falter.
Midway through that quarter, the Mercury went on a 7-0 run, establishing a significant lead at 41-30, while Liberty struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities, resulting in a stagnant crowd atmosphere.
Meesseman noted that the message in the locker room was “brief” and emphasized the need to quickly move on after labeling the performance as “unforgivable.”
Jonquel Jones highlighted that even though Liberty may have played their worst game of the season, the team’s spirit remains high.
“The vibe is that the season isn’t over,” she stated. “With our Game 1 win, we have the chance to play again and turn this around. We’ve been in tough spots before,” she added.
