Phoenix Mercury continued their hot streak on Friday night with a powerful 106-91 win over the New York Liberty. Despite a strong effort from Breanna Stewart and her teammates, Liberty could not keep up with the Mercury’s record-setting shooting from deep.
Phoenix’s sharp start and consistent scoring were too much for New York, who struggled early and never fully recovered. The Mercury improved their record to 12-6 and extended their winning streak to six games. Meanwhile, the Liberty slipped to 11-4, losing their fourth game in the last five outings.
The night belonged to Satou Sabally, who scored 25 points, including 7 of 10 from beyond the arc. Her shooting performance helped the Mercury set a new WNBA record with 35 made three-pointers across two games. In this match alone, they hit 18 of 39 shots from three-point range. That came just after making 17 threes in their previous win over Chicago.
Sami Whitcomb supported Sabally’s effort with 15 points, sinking 5 of 7 three-point shots. Kitija Laksa added 13 points while Kahleah Copper contributed 12. The Mercury’s ability to spread the floor and find open shooters led to a team-record 30 assists on 41 total baskets.
Alyssa Thomas played a key role in distributing the ball. She finished the game with 17 points and tied a team record with 15 assists. She was just one rebound away from yet another triple-double — which would have been the 12th of her regular-season career.
The Liberty, on the other hand, had a slow start that set the tone for the rest of the game. At halftime, they trailed 61-43. Breanna Stewart, their star forward, managed only five points in the first half. She picked up her pace in the third quarter, scoring 10 points, including six straight to cut the deficit to 68-61. However, Phoenix responded quickly with more three-pointers to push their lead to 88-72 entering the final quarter.
Stewart finished the game with 17 points. Nyara Sabally, in her first career start and facing her sister Satou, scored a personal-best 16 points. Natasha Cloud added 15 points, helping New York maintain a solid shooting percentage of over 50%.
Despite shooting well, the Liberty were outscored at the free-throw line by 13 points and hit only 8 of 18 shots from deep. Their defense struggled to contain Phoenix’s ball movement and long-range attack, allowing the Mercury to control the pace throughout the night.
The Liberty’s recent skid began just over a week ago, also against the Mercury, when they lost 89-81 at home. That loss seemed to have triggered a drop in momentum. Since then, the team has lacked consistency, especially in defending the perimeter.
Friday’s game showcased the Mercury’s rise as a serious threat this season. Their quick passes, accurate shooting, and solid teamwork are turning heads across the league. Breaking a WNBA record for threes in back-to-back games only adds to their growing reputation.
For the Liberty, the focus now shifts to regaining their early-season form. With talent like Stewart, Cloud, and the emerging Sabally sisters, New York still has the tools to turn things around. But fixing their defensive issues and starting stronger will be key to getting back in the win column.
The two teams may cross paths again later this season, and if they do, the Liberty will likely aim to slow down the Mercury’s shooters from the start. Until then, Phoenix continues to rise, and New York will have to regroup and prepare for the next challenge ahead.
