Keep finding a way. The New York Liberty were even more shorthanded than usual on Thursday night, but it didn’t matter in the end. With just eight players available, the Liberty put forth an inspired effort as they beat the Washington Mystics by 26 points. It didn’t solve everything for the group, but a home blowout win must’ve felt great.
The opponent tonight is battling with the Liberty for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. It’s been a darn good season for Nate Tibbets and the Phoenix Mercury
in 2025. The Chicago Sky gave them all they could handle on Thursday night, but Phoenix did just enough to hang on and win 83-79. Phoenix is in the fourth seed while the Liberty are in the five spot. A half game separates the two teams.
Where to follow the game
MY9 on TV. Liberty Live and FOX Local on streaming for the locals. NBATV for the out of towners. Late night affair so the party’s getting started after 10 PM.
Injuries
Natasha Cloud missed the game on Thursday as she missed her second straight game due to a nose injury. She’s listed as questionable. Jonquel Jones was under the weather on Thursday so she missed that game. She’s questionable. Same for Sabrina Ionescu who is continuing to manage the after effects of the leg injury she suffered against the Chicago Sky. Nyara Sabally is out.
All clear for Phoenix.
The game
Phoenix won games one and two while New York took game three. This is the last meeting between the two teams this regular season.
Phoenix is being sued again. Earlier this summer, the Mercury were sued by former interim head coach Nikki Blue for alleged racial and gender discrimination. This time, Mercury/Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is being sued by minority owners of the team seeking access to internal records. Included in their complaint is an inquiry into how the Mercury’s new training facility was funded. There’s a lot going on there, and we’ll see if anything comes from these situations.
So I can’t quite call it with Satou Sabally. The talent jumps off the screen and she has some impressive accolades to her name. However, it feels like she should be doing more. More in terms of production, availability, just more. She certainly has the potential to be one of the game’s best players and someone that can serve as a franchise level player. A big game tonight and a deep playoff run should firmly establish her in the top, top tier of WNBA players.
Satou is also a key voice for WNBA players in CBA negotiations, and is pretty fed up with Cathy Engelbert…
You need that kind of energy at the bargaining table.
Isabelle Harrison might be the one of the best free agent pickups of this past WNBA offseason. Izzy returned to action after being out with a concussion and had 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 19 minutes. New York is going to need Izzy to give them something similar, especially when she’s matched up with Natasha Mack. Mack does a great job of protecting the rim and is someone that will bring the physicality to Harrison, Emma Meesseman, and the rest of the Liberty frontcourt.
Kahleah Copper is one of the most electric players in basketball. She has the quickest first step in the game, is someone you can count on in the clutch, and can score at all three levels. Kah is a matchup nightmare and someone that has given the Liberty plenty of trouble over the years. Leonie Fiebich has taken on a lot of the big assignments for the Liberty, and she’ll get to do it again tonight. Rebekah Gardner played some tremendous minutes off the bench and has been a steady hand when her number is called. Even if Ionescu and Cloud are back, look for Bek to get some more chances to shine.
Three point shooting will determine this game. Phoenix and New York are second and fourth in three point attempts. NY is second in efficiency and PHX is seventh. An ill timed cold drought from either team could allow their opponent to go on an extended run.
Player to watch: Alyssa Thomas
New city, same ole AT. Alyssa Thomas has made Phoenix her home and is making a case to be named Most Valuable Player. She’s a triple double threat every time she steps on the court and has kept the Mercury defense afloat even amidst the extended absences for Copper and Sabally. As Shane Young wrote in a sensational deep dive in Forbes:
“She’s a unicorn in her own right, serving as the Mercury’s point-forward and disrupting conventional playing styles.
“Through a broad lens, Thomas is producing more for her team as a playmaking hub than any player in the league. One glance at her volume in Assist Points Generated is enough to paint the picture – she’s in a class of her own.
Annihilating the competition. Lapping the field. Insert your favorite expression that applies to legends across every sport.“
The last time Thomas saw the Liberty in Phoenix, she had 17/9/15 in 31 minutes. The Liberty were without Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich that night. With some more size available to them, the Liberty hope they can slow The Engine down long enough to get the win.
Breanna Stewart is still working through a minutes restriction, but she’s trying to make the best of it. She only went 4-9 from the field in 23 minutes, but did boss work on the glass by grabbing a game high nine rebounds on Thursday night. The Liberty have been terrible on the boards all season long, and they’re going to need a lot more from everybody on that end to ensure they complete possessions and bring the requisite force and physicality needed to win big. On offense, she gives them the downhill juice they desperately need. As Lucas wrote over at Basketball Insiders:
“But none of her teammates, snipers as they are, can replicate her ability to put pressure on the rim in any situation. New York’s free-flowing, five-out offense means the ball gets from side-to-side and roles are quite fungible. One player may set a ball-screen and roll to the rim, flowing out to the opposite corner if they don’t get the pass. A few seconds later, and they’re careening around the arc, receiving a dribble handoff from the wing.”
We’ll see if her minutes total will increase tonight. The Liberty ask a lot of Stewart, but she’s always ready to meet the challenge.
From the Vault
Sue Bird recently got a statue in front of Climate Pledge Arena, and her old pal Diana Taurasi joined the ceremony to honor her friend and rival. With that in mind, let’s revisit the famous Storm v. Mercury battles from the 2018 playoffs
More reading: Desert Wave Media, GO PHNX, AZ Central, Swish Appeal, Breakaway, SB Nation, Women’s Basketball Roundup, The Local W, New York Daily News, No Cap Space, New York Post, Newsday, The Athletic, NY Liberty Fan TV, Yahoo Sports, Gotta Get Up, Sports Illustrated, Fansided, Just Women’s Sports, Winsidr, Her Hoop Stats, CBS Sports, and The Next
