Liberty Secures Victory Over Mercury
Wednesday night at Barclays Center, the energy was palpable, with many thinking, “This is a moment we won’t see again.”
The Liberty began the second half sluggishly, allowing the Phoenix Mercury to take a six-point lead.
Coach Chris DeMarco took a timeout, though what he said remains a bit of a mystery. Nevertheless, it clearly made an impact.
A switch flipped. The defense tightened, and the players became more focused. The Liberty found their rhythm.
They dominated the Mercury, almost as if they were taking their lunch money. Each basket scored made the Mercury fade further, and with every turnover—seven in the third quarter alone—the Liberty took flight.
New York closed out the quarter with a stunning 23-0 streak, completely shaking the Mercury and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
By the fourth quarter, the Liberty held a commanding 17-point lead and ultimately snapped their three-game losing streak with an 84-74 win.
There was a sense of urgency for the Liberty on Wednesday, especially after being bested by the Mercury in the previous year’s playoffs.
“Absolutely,” Leonie Fievich expressed. “Everyone who played last year can still feel that sting, and we approached tonight with that in mind.”
The Liberty aimed to bring more intensity after starting the season with a frustrating 3-4 record. A recent lengthy filming session revealed areas needing improvement, particularly concerning turnovers and other missteps.
Despite being without key players like Sabrina Ionescu, who is sidelined with a back injury, and Sato Sabally due to illness, the team knew they had to elevate their game.
The first half showed glimmers of improvement, aided by Marin Johannes’ incredible shooting performance—she netted 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
The team appeared more deliberate defensively, but it was the third quarter that really stood out as New York’s strongest showing of the season.
They hit 10 of 18 shots (55.6 percent) from the field, sinking 4 of 8 from three-point range.
Jonquel Jones contributed significantly with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists in that quarter. Overall, she recorded 17 points, along with 12 rebounds and four assists.
While there’s certainly more work to be done, Wednesday marked a noticeable step up from their shaky start to this homestand.
Coach Fievich remarked, “We’re still early in the season, and there are areas to address, particularly defensively. But I feel good about where we stand.”
