PHOENIX—Down goes the champions on Planet Mercury, as the Phoenix Mercury defeat the New York Liberty in a historic fashion to advance to the semifinals.
Just one year ago, franchise legend Diana Taurasi played her final home game in front of the x-Factor home crowd, having announced her retirement after 20 seasons.
Fast forward to 2025: the Mercury, with a revamped roster, secured their first playoff series win since 2021 by defeating the defending champions in a thriller. Four players scored in double figures, highlighting the team’s balanced offensive attack.
Satou Sabally, the Unicorn, Powers Mercury Win
Forward Satou Sabally led the Mercury with an explosive performance, recording a double-double of 23 points, four 3-pointers made, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
In Game 1 of the series, Sabally struggled from the field, making just 2 of 17 shots in Phoenix’s overtime loss to New York. By Game 3, she had become more aggressive in scoring and contributing on the offensive end.
“I would say our focus and communication throughout the season,” Sabally said postgame. “We knew that we might be at a disadvantage just coming in, not having that team chemistry, battling with the top teams, because that’s really what we measured ourselves with.
“We knew that we have to handle conflicts really quickly, and it happens throughout the season. It brings you together, it brings you closer, you mold. You have these tough losses, you have these great wins, but everything goes into a bucket. And I feel like right now, it’s just like we’re complete. And it feels great to feel that way, and it feels great to really go into the next round with full focus and a lot of confidence in what we’ve done this season.”
Although it was a tough and physical game between the Mercury and Liberty, Phoenix kept the lead throughout the fourth quarter and held all New York players, except for Breanna Stewart, to 0-for-9 shooting from the field.
Guard Kahleah Copper also contributed to the Mercury’s win on both ends of the court, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds. When Phoenix was up by three with under a minute remaining, she made a tough basket to extend its lead to five, helping the team secure a spot in the semifinals.
“We’ve talked about it – whatever it takes, and they did that,” Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. “Coming down the hallway, these two are talking about getting defensive stops and rebounding the basketball. We’ve got talented players. We’ve got players that can score. I think we’ll find our way offensively, but what we’ve done, how we’ve committed to that defensive end, how we have committed to each other, I think it’s very impressive with such a new group, and it starts with our leadership committee.”
One year a part at PHX Arena #WNBA
— Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) September 20, 2025
September 19, 2024- Diana Taurasi’s last home game after 20 years with the Phoenix Mercury
September 19, 2025- Kahleah Copper’s clutch shot puts the Phoenix Mercury into the semifinals in a thrilling win over the New York Liberty pic.twitter.com/NgxcKDGhXu
Alyssa Thomas Sets WNBA Playoffs Record
Known as a triple-double machine, but forward Alyssa Thomas became the first player in WNBA postseason history to record a 20-point triple-double. Her leadership on both ends of the court has been crucial to the Mercury’s success in crunch time situations.Thomas also has five triple-doubles, the most in WNBA postseason history, while all other players combined have just two.
After blocking Stewart in the paint, Thomas grabbed the rebounds and passed to Sami Whitcomb, who drilled a 3-pointer to put the Mercury up by eight in the fourth quarter.
More importantly, Phoenix’s defense limited New York’s Jonquel Jones to just three points. Both Jones and Stewart ran into foul trouble early on.
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Throughout the regular season, the Phoenix Mercury have been known for their strong defensive identity and ability to convert turnovers. They dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle 49-33. In fact, their 49 boards marked the second-most in franchise postseason history.
“We’re a team that wants to defend,” Thomas said. “At this point in the season, you have to defend to win ball games. It takes a lot of energy to go out there and guard somebody for 40 minutes and then go on the other end to play offense, but it’s something we’ve been doing all year, something we condition our body to do, so just got to continue to do it when it comes to playoff time.”
After Thomas made 1 of 2 free throws to seal the win for the Mercury, Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu missed a 3-pointer, and Phoenix’s bench and fans cheered loudly as seconds ticked down and the final buzzer sounded.
DeWanna Bonner’s Clutch Performance Leads Phoenix to Semifinals
Forward DeWanna Bonner is known for delivering big moments in the playoffs, and her buzzer-beating shot in the fourth gave the Mercury a boost over the Liberty.
Although Bonner ran into foul trouble, she made plays in crunch time for Phoenix, contributing four points and eight rebounds. She also made history that night by surpassing Candace Parker (610) for the most rebounds in the WNBA postseason with 614.
Since Bonner’s arrival mid-season, she has made a positive impact, contributing on both ends of the court off the bench.
“DB is a great player, and I think bringing DB (DeWanna Bonner) into this team has helped her to be an even better player,” New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said. “Obviously, the first two games, she was really big for them in the scoring, but today it was just her rebounding, and she did make that really big shot, which kind of broke our back a little bit there right near the end of the game.
“DB is special. She plays hard. I think she’s still playing hard and still playing at such a great level, and she’s so versatile. She can shoot threes, she can play off the dribble and I think she’s rebounding really well. She complements how they play, and she has obviously great chemistry with AT (Alyssa Thomas).”
Phoenix Mercury Set to Face Minnesota Lynx in the Semifinals
The Phoenix Mercury will face Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx for the second consecutive year in the postseason. Last year, the Lynx swept the Mercury in the first round of the playoffs in just two games.
Throughout the regular season, Minnesota won the season series over Phoenix, 3-1, despite the Mercury dealing with injuries to their key players earlier in the season.
Every triple-double in WNBA Playoffs history
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 20, 2025
Alyssa Thomas: 20/11/11
Alyssa Thomas: 17/15/11
Alyssa Thomas: 16/15/11
Alyssa Thomas: 12/13/10
Alyssa Thomas: 11/11/10
Courtney Vandersloot: 12/18/10
Sheryl Swoopes: 14/10/10 pic.twitter.com/QpqQKApwQv
The Phoenix Mercury will face the Minnesota Lynx on the road in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinals series, starting Sunday at 5 p.m. EST on ESPN.
