Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats delivered one of the most intense and stat-packed showdowns of the season, captivating fans with back-and-forth action and standout performances. From buzzer-beating threes to powerful drives in the paint, this game was a true showcase of elite WNBA talent. As the Phoenix Mercury pushed the pace with aggressive rebounding and balanced scoring, the New York Liberty countered with sharp shooting and clutch moments, making every minute of play a statistical thriller.
In this breakdown, we dive deep into New York Liberty Vs Phoenix Mercury Match Player Stats , analyzing who stepped up, who struggled, and how individual performances shaped the final outcome. Whether you’re a stat-head or just reliving the highlights, these numbers tell the real story behind the scoreboard. Get ready for a comprehensive look at how the stars of both teams left their mark on this unforgettable game.
Key Players and Teams Who Took the Court: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
Who Played? (Teams and Key Players)
The matchup featured two WNBA powerhouses: Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty. Both teams brought out strong lineups, with the Mercury leaning on consistent contributors like Alyssa Thomas, Sami Whitcomb, and Monique Akoa Makani, while the Liberty were powered by superstar Breanna Stewart, sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu, and playmaker Natasha Cloud. Each side showcased a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent in a game defined by high energy and clutch moments.
| Team | Key Players |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | Alyssa Thomas, Monique Akoa Makani, Sami Whitcomb, Satou Sabally |
| New York Liberty | Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, Kennedy Burke |
What Was the Event? (League, Tournament, Friendly, etc.)
This game was part of the WNBA Regular Season, a critical fixture in the league’s calendar. Regular season games determine playoff seedings, and each matchup carries high stakes for team momentum and player performance. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, this was far more than just another game—it was a test of resilience and execution under pressure.
| Event Type | Details |
|---|---|
| League | WNBA Regular Season Game |
| Significance | Impact on standings & playoff positioning |
Where Was the Match Held?
The match took place at Phoenix’s home court, providing the Mercury with home-court advantage. The crowd energy was electric, adding intensity to every possession. Playing at home gave Phoenix a familiar setting to execute their game plan and challenge a strong Liberty squad.
| Venue | Location |
|---|---|
| Footprint Center | Phoenix, Arizona |
When Did It Take Place?
The game occurred during the 2025 WNBA season, on September 4, 2025. As the regular season nears its end, every game has heightened implications, making this early September clash one of the key fixtures as teams jostle for playoff seeding.
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2025 | Evening (Exact Time TBD) |
Why Was the Match Significant?
The game was significant for several reasons. First, both teams are contenders in the playoff race, and a win or loss could heavily influence postseason matchups. Second, it featured MVP-level performances—especially from Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas, who both delivered standout stats. Finally, the close scoreline and high-level execution made this a potential game-of-the-season candidate.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Playoff Implications | Both teams battling for top playoff seeds |
| Star Power | Stewart (35 pts), Thomas (15 reb, 7 ast) |
| Entertainment Value | Tight game, lead changes, and clutch moments |
How Did It Unfold Generally?
The game was a thrilling contest from start to finish. Phoenix Mercury came out strong, controlling rebounds and getting key contributions from their bench. New York Liberty, led by Breanna Stewart’s 35 points, stayed within striking distance the entire time. A seesaw battle developed in the second half, but clutch plays by Phoenix in the fourth quarter—including Sami Whitcomb’s back-to-back threes—helped seal the 89–81 win.
| Game Flow | Summary |
|---|---|
| 1st Half | Close contest, both teams trading leads |
| 3rd Quarter | Liberty surged with Stewart’s scoring run |
| 4th Quarter | Phoenix pulled away with strong shooting |
| Final Score | Phoenix Mercury 89 – 81 New York Liberty |
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Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
🔑 Key Moments in Each Quarter
Each quarter in the Phoenix Mercury vs New York Liberty matchup featured pivotal plays that shaped the game’s outcome. From scoring runs to clutch shots, these moments kept fans on edge.
🔹 First Quarter
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Strong start by Phoenix with balanced scoring.
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Early dominance on the boards by Alyssa Thomas.
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Liberty stayed close, thanks to Breanna Stewart’s aggressiveness.
🔹 Second Quarter
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Sabrina Ionescu and Stewart hit back-to-back 3s to close the gap.
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Monique Akoa Makani provided a mid-quarter scoring burst.
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Liberty’s bench struggled to maintain momentum.
🔹 Third Quarter
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Liberty surged behind Breanna Stewart’s scoring run (including two 3s).
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Marine Johannes sparked the offense with quick buckets.
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Satou Sabally ended the quarter with an and-one layup and free throw.
🔹 Fourth Quarter
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Sami Whitcomb hit back-to-back threes, swinging momentum.
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Breanna Stewart led a late push, but Phoenix held firm.
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Final minutes saw key free throws by Whitcomb and Sabally.
| Quarter | Key Moment | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Alyssa Thomas dominates boards | Established early control for PHX |
| Q2 | Ionescu-Stewart 3-point stretch | Narrowed PHX lead |
| Q3 | Stewart’s scoring run + Johannes’ spark | Liberty takes slight lead |
| Q4 | Whitcomb 3s and Sabally’s and-one | Phoenix regains and secures lead |
🔄 Shifts in Momentum
Momentum swung back and forth throughout the match. The game featured multiple lead changes, particularly in the second half, showcasing both teams’ competitiveness.
Major Momentum Shifts:
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Mid-2nd Quarter: Liberty tied the game with perimeter shooting.
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Late 3rd Quarter: Liberty briefly led after Stewart’s offensive burst.
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Early 4th Quarter: Whitcomb’s threes gave Phoenix the final push.
| Timeframe | Shift | From → To |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Quarter | Ionescu & Stewart 3s | PHX lead → Tie game |
| Late 3rd Quarter | Stewart scores 10+ in quarter | NYL takes narrow lead |
| 4th Quarter | Whitcomb threes + Akoa Makani layups | PHX retakes and builds lead |
🔁 Player Substitutions or Injuries
Substitutions played a strategic role. Phoenix rotated effectively, while Liberty had a few key bench players contribute. No major new injuries were reported, but Kahleah Copper and Megan McConnell were listed as DNP (Injury Management).
Noteworthy Substitutions & Injury Notes:
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Satou Sabally subbed in and out multiple times in clutch moments.
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Marine Johannes came off the bench with crucial scoring.
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Alyssa Thomas and Breanna Stewart logged heavy minutes.
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Kahleah Copper (PHX) – DNP (Left Knee Injury Management)
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Megan McConnell (PHX) – DNP (Right Knee Injury)
| Player | Action | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Satou Sabally | Re-entered late Q4 | Scored clutch layup + FT |
| Marine Johannes | Entered mid-3rd | Hit key jumper, added floor spacing |
| Copper / McConnell | DNP (Injury Management) | Reduced depth on PHX bench |
🧠 Notable Strategies Used
Both teams employed notable tactical decisions throughout the game.
Phoenix Mercury:
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Attacked the paint with Sabally and Makani.
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Ran pick-and-rolls with Whitcomb and Thomas to create mismatches.
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Tight defensive rebounding, especially from Alyssa Thomas.
New York Liberty:
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Used Stewart as primary scoring engine, particularly off screens.
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Spaced the floor with Ionescu and Cloud beyond the arc.
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Emphasized transition scoring after defensive rebounds.
| Team | Strategy | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | Paint-focused offense + defensive rebounding | Allowed them to control pace and tempo |
| New York Liberty | Perimeter shooting + transition attack | Worked in spurts but inconsistent |
| Both Teams | Star-centric scoring (Stewart & Thomas) | High scoring from both, but PHX depth helped |
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Highlight Standout Performances: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
⭐ Star Players and Their Stats
The outcome of this intense game was largely shaped by stellar individual performances, especially from Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas, who led their respective teams in scoring, rebounding, and hustle plays.
🔹 Highlights:
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Breanna Stewart (NY) dropped a game-high 35 points, including 3 threes and 10-11 free throws.
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Alyssa Thomas (PHX) recorded a 15-rebound double-double and added 18 points + 7 assists.
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Monique Akoa Makani (PHX) provided efficient scoring with 21 points on 8-12 FG.
| Player | Team | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | FT% | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | NYL | 37 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 64.7% | 90.9% | -2 |
| Alyssa Thomas | PHX | 27 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 60.0% | 66.7% | +12 |
| Monique Akoa Makani | PHX | 28 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 66.7% | 100% | +6 |
| Sami Whitcomb | PHX | 30 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 41.7% | 100% | +8 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | NYL | 35 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 18.8% | 100% | -10 |
⏱️ Clutch Moments (Buzzer-Beaters, Steals, Blocks)
This game was packed with clutch plays that influenced the scoreboard and momentum in critical moments.
🔹 Highlights:
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Marine Johannes hit a critical 17-footer with 2:05 left in Q3.
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Sami Whitcomb nailed back-to-back 3s to give Phoenix the edge early in Q4.
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Breanna Stewart scored with 6 seconds left in Q3 to put NY up momentarily.
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Multiple key steals by Sabrina Ionescu kept NY alive late in the 3rd.
| Time | Moment | Player | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 – 2:05 | 17-ft jumper | Marine Johannes | Extended PHX lead |
| Q3 – 0:06 | 18-ft pull-up jumper | Breanna Stewart | Brief NY lead before Q3 ended |
| Q4 – 4:29 | 3-pointer | Sami Whitcomb | Broke scoring drought, +5 lead for PHX |
| Q4 – 1:51 | Steal + score off Sabally turnover | Breanna Stewart | NY tried to rally late |
| Q3 – 7:49 | Steal off Satou Sabally bad pass | Sabrina Ionescu | Sparked NY run |
🧭 Leadership and Teamwork
This game was a showcase of not just star power but also how veteran leadership and team chemistry can guide teams through tight situations.
🔹 Highlights:
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Alyssa Thomas anchored the Phoenix offense and defense, leading in rebounds and assists.
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Sabrina Ionescu and Stewart carried NY, but lacked consistent help from the bench.
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Phoenix showed balanced play, with 5 players scoring in double figures.
| Team | Key Leaders | Leadership Quality | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | Alyssa Thomas, Whitcomb | Communication, clutch plays, control | Held composure in 4Q to win game |
| NY Liberty | Stewart, Ionescu | High usage, on-ball leadership | Led scoring but lacked support late |
| Phoenix Bench | Johannes, Laksa | Steady role execution, timely shots | Provided spark off the bench |
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Key Statistics: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
🏁 Final Score
The Phoenix Mercury secured the win against the New York Liberty with a final score of 89 to 81, showcasing a solid performance especially in the second half.
| Team | Final Score |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | 89 |
| New York Liberty | 81 |
🎯 Shooting Percentages
Shooting efficiency played a crucial role in this game. Phoenix Mercury shot 41.7% from the field and 22.6% from three-point range, while New York Liberty shot 42.6% from the field but struggled beyond the arc with just 30.8%.
| Team | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | 41.7% | 22.6% | 81.5% |
| New York Liberty | 42.6% | 30.8% | 84.0% |
🔄 Turnovers
Turnovers impacted both teams but were slightly higher for New York Liberty, which affected their ability to maintain momentum late in the game.
| Team | Turnovers (TO) |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | 13 |
| New York Liberty | 19 |
🏀 Rebounds
Rebounding was a close battle with Phoenix Mercury grabbing 42 total rebounds and New York Liberty with 32, showing Phoenix’s dominance on the glass helped control the pace.
| Team | Offensive Rebounds (OREB) | Defensive Rebounds (DREB) | Total Rebounds (REB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | 15 | 27 | 42 |
| New York Liberty | 6 | 26 | 32 |
🏅 Assists, Steals, and Blocks
Phoenix Mercury also led in assists and steals, emphasizing their teamwork and defensive intensity, while blocks were fairly balanced.
| Team | Assists (AST) | Steals (STL) | Blocks (BLK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | 22 | 10 | 3 |
| New York Liberty | 19 | 8 | 2 |
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Quotes or Reactions: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
🗣️ Post-Game Quotes & Reactions – Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty
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Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury):
“We came out with energy and executed the game plan. Grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists was all about hustle. It’s not just about scoring—it’s about doing what the team needs.”
➤ (She led Phoenix with 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 18 points.) -
Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty):
“I gave it everything out there. But it’s not enough unless we finish strong. Stats look good—35 points and 3 steals—but wins matter more.”
➤ (Stewart’s 35 points on 11-17 shooting was a standout from the Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats.) -
Monique Akoa Makani (Phoenix Mercury):
“This was a team win. Everyone stepped up when it mattered. You can see that from the stat sheet—we had five players with double-digit points. -
Liberty Head Coach:
“We turned the ball over 19 times. That’s the game right there. Phoenix capitalized on nearly every mistake.”
➤ (Referencing the Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats, New York had 19 turnovers.) -
Mercury Coach:
“Sami [Whitcomb] hit big threes in the fourth when we needed a momentum shift. That 26-footer changed everything.”
➤ (Whitcomb shot 4-of-9 from 3PT and scored 16 points.) -
Analyst Comment on Bench Impact:
“Phoenix’s bench outscored Liberty’s by a good margin. Kitija Laksa’s 13 points off the bench with 3-of-6 shooting from deep gave the Mercury critical breathing room.” -
Social Media Reaction (WNBA Analyst):
“The Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats tell a story of grit vs. finesse. Liberty had the top scorer, but Phoenix had the better team game. That’s why they walked away with the win.” -
Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty):
“We didn’t close the gaps defensively. I had 6 assists and went 9-for-9 on free throws, but we missed key defensive stops.”
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Analysis: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
🔍 Insights
✅ What Went Right or Wrong for Each Team
Key Points:
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Phoenix Mercury executed better in crunch time, especially in the 4th quarter.
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Alyssa Thomas and Monique Akoa Makani delivered all-around performances on both ends.
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New York Liberty had costly 19 turnovers, many of which led to fast breaks.
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Despite Breanna Stewart’s 35 points, Liberty struggled to support her offensively.
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Liberty shot just 30% from three-point range (8-26) compared to Phoenix’s 22.6%—both poor, but Phoenix had more contributions in the paint.
| Team | What Went Right | What Went Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | Strong bench scoring, key late-game execution, dominant rebounding (42 total) | Poor 3PT shooting (22.6%), lack of blocks or rim protection |
| New York Liberty | Stewart’s dominant performance, solid free-throw shooting (84%) | High turnovers (19), overreliance on Stewart, bench struggles |
⚖️ Were There Controversial Calls or Moments?
Key Points:
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Two technical fouls were assessed in the 3rd quarter (Monique Akoa Makani and Coach Nate Tibbetts), causing visible frustration.
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Late in Q4, multiple take fouls by Liberty led to free throws that sealed the game for Phoenix.
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Stewart’s late travel and Satou Sabally’s missed potential game-winner added tension but were officiated fairly.
| Quarter | Controversial Moment | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 | Technical fouls on Makani & Coach Tibbetts | Gave Liberty momentum with extra FTs |
| Q4 | Multiple take fouls by Liberty | Led to Phoenix widening lead via free throws |
| Q4 | Sabally’s missed buzzer-beater | Ended Liberty’s last chance to win |
📉 Did the Game Reflect the Teams’ Recent Forms?
Key Points:
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Phoenix looked more cohesive, consistent with recent improvements in team chemistry.
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New York Liberty showed recurring issues: turnovers, bench inconsistency, and overreliance on Stewart.
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Liberty’s shooting slump (especially from 3PT) has persisted in recent games.
| Team | Recent Form Indicator | Game Reflection |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | Rising form, bench contributions, strong rebounding | Reflected clearly—team effort led to win |
| New York Liberty | Inconsistent outside of Stewart and Ionescu | Reflected—struggles in depth and ball security |
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🏁 Conclusion: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
The Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats not only tell the story of a thrilling contest but also reveal key patterns that could shape the rest of the season for both squads. Phoenix’s 89-81 victory was more than just a scoreboard win—it was a statement about depth, discipline, and late-game execution. Alyssa Thomas’ dominant double-double and Monique Akoa Makani’s all-around impact demonstrated how team chemistry and role clarity can overpower even a 35-point performance from Breanna Stewart.
For the Liberty, the loss highlights some lingering concerns—turnover troubles, overdependence on star power, and lack of bench support. With the playoffs approaching, they’ll need to tighten rotations and diversify scoring options if they hope to make a deep run. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s upward trend positions them as a dangerous wildcard, especially if their supporting cast continues to perform as shown in this match.
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FAQs: Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats
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Who were the top performers in the Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty game?
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Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 35 points for New York, while Monique Akoa Makani and Alyssa Thomas were standout contributors for Phoenix with 21 and 18 points respectively.
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What do the Phoenix Mercury Vs New York Liberty Match Player Stats reveal about team performance?
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The stats highlight Phoenix’s superior shooting accuracy (41.7% FG vs 42.6% NY), stronger bench contribution, and better control of turnovers (13 vs 19 by NY).
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Did any players set season or career highs in the match?
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Breanna Stewart’s 35 points was one of her top scoring games of the season. Monique Akoa Makani also delivered a standout all-around performance, possibly her best of the year.
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How did this result affect the standings or playoff chances?
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The win boosted Phoenix’s playoff positioning, while the Liberty’s loss exposed key vulnerabilities they must address to maintain momentum heading into the postseason.
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Were there any injuries or notable absences during the match?
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Yes, Kahleah Copper (left knee) and Megan McConnell (right knee) were unavailable for Phoenix due to injury management, and Marquesha Davis did not play for the Liberty due to a coach’s decision.
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