A steady stream of Liberty supporters filed out of Barclays Center despite five minutes remaining on the clock in Wednesday’s Game 2 against the Mercury. The typically committed fan base had seen enough before Phoenix walloped New York 86–60 to bring the best-of-three first-round playoff series level before heading back to Arizona. Sandy Brondello & Co. may have surrendered even before some fans left the building, with New York’s starting trio of Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart sitting out for the entirety of the fourth quarter. “We are a way better team than what we showed today,” Brondello said after the game.
The Mercury emphasized the importance of defense ahead of Game 2, and they executed their game plan to perfection. “Defense has been our calling card all year,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said after his team’s win. “When we rebound and guard, we can go.” Outscoring the Liberty 20–2 on fastbreak points, the Mercury’s stops also translated to explosive offense, with five Phoenix players finishing in double figures. “Our turnovers led to those easy baskets in transition,” Brondello said of her side.
