The New York Liberty concluded their three-game West Coast trip with a narrow 94-92 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, narrowly avoiding a late collapse.
Despite building an early 11-point lead, the Liberty saw their advantage dwindle, and they trailed by 10 points in the second half. The tension escalated in the final minute of the fourth quarter. New York held an eight-point lead with just over a minute remaining, but a series of missed opportunities and a turnover allowed the Mercury to close the gap. Phoenix made four consecutive free throws and a crucial three-pointer by DeWanna Bonner, cutting the Liberty's lead to two points with 24 seconds left.
However, the Liberty managed to maintain composure and secure the win, improving their season record to 17-13. Forward Breanna Stewart noted a sign of improvement in the team's performance, highlighting their fight and desire to compete for the full 40 minutes, a resilience that was evident in the critical late stages of the game.
Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 27 points and 10 assists, falling just three rebounds shy of a triple-double. Jonquel Jones contributed 16 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while Han Xu provided a significant boost off the bench with 17 points and six rebounds.