Phoenix – Sandi Brondello didn’t hesitate when discussing the importance of Saturday’s game against Mercury. “Playoff game,” she said, and soon after, her usual easygoing demeanor surfaced as she smiled. “But enjoy it,” she added. “These are fun.” Well, at least they ought to be. Winning makes them feel all the more enjoyable, but that joy seemed distant as Freedom succumbed to a score of 80-63 later that day.
The defending champions faced a longer wait to officially clinch a playoff berth, while also losing the regular season series to Mercury 3-1. This outcome grants Phoenix the head-to-head tiebreaker, which might mean home-court advantage in the first playoff round.
New York was feeling the pressure going into the game. With Sabrina Ionescu sidelined due to a toe injury, they managed to bring back masked Natasha Cloud and Jonquel Jones, edging closer to full strength.
Liberty knew they had to bring their A-game. There was little room for error—turnovers, fouls, and rebounding issues had to be minimized.
Initially, Freedom performed well, executing their game plan effectively and controlling the tempo. On defense, they disrupted Mercury’s passing lanes, making it tough for Phoenix. Liberty led 39-37 at halftime.
However, things began to unravel in the third quarter. Liberty managed just one point in the last 4:34 of the frame, and Mercury pulled ahead by six as the game entered the final quarter.
Clearing the way for a layup, Marine Johannes’s turnover early in the fourth was not what Liberty needed.
Mercury stretched their lead to 11 points soon after. Emma Meesseman hit a three-pointer, but Katyrun Westveld matched that on the other end, pulling Phoenix back to within ten with 6:13 remaining.
Brondello called a timeout to regroup her team, yet Mercury was relentless. Every time Liberty built up some momentum, Phoenix shut it down.
Dewanna Bonner notched seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter. Kahleah Copper added a dramatic three-pointer, mimicking Michael Jordan’s iconic celebration, pushing Phoenix ahead by 15 with 3:49 on the clock.
With just 2:16 left, Liberty waved the white flag as Brondello emptied her bench. It wasn’t the result New York was hoping for—the opening match of a crucial road trip didn’t go as planned.
Mercury’s strong trio—Copper with 22 points, Alyssa Thomas contributing 14 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, plus Satou Sabally with 14 points and four assists—proved too much for Liberty. Meesseman led her team’s scoring with 17 points.
Saturday hinted at what could be a first-round playoff matchup set for September 14. As of now, Mercury and Freedom stand fourth and fifth, respectively, in rankings, with four games left for Liberty before heading to San Francisco to face the Valkyries on Tuesday.
