POSTGAME NOTES: Mercury 84, Liberty 81
July 8, 2022 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release
LIBERTY 81 | MERCURY 84
(9-13) (10-14)
July 7, 2022
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 FINAL
LIBERTY 18 16 20 27 81
MERCURY 29 13 14 28 84
GAME LEADERS NEW YORK PHOENIX
POINTS Ionescu (22) Cunningham, Taurasi (23)
REBOUNDS Ionescu (10) Diggins-Smith (7)
ASSISTS Johannès (6) Diggins-Smith (9)
TEAM NOTABLES
On Thursday, the New York Liberty (9-13) fell to the Phoenix Mercury (10-14), 84-81, in the first contest of their 2022 three-game season series and second night of their road back-to-back.
At Footprint Center, the Liberty finished on 42.3% (30-71) shooting from the field, 30.4% (7-23) from three, and 87.5% (14-16) at the free throw line.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will open the second half of the WNBA season at home with a two-game set against the Las Vegas Aces beginning on Tuesday, July 12 at 7 p.m. ET.
KEY RUNS
Q1: Phoenix went on a 12-4 run from the 9:16 mark of the first to the 7:17 mark of the quarter.
Q2: The Mercury went on a 9-0 run from the 7:13 mark of the second to the 4:46 mark of the quarter. The Liberty responded with a 10-2 run from the 4:13 mark through the end of the quarter to cut the Mercury lead to eight.
Q3: Phoenix went on an 8-4 run from the 6:35 mark of the third to the 3:42 mark of the quarter.
Q4: Phoenix opened the fourth on a 12-6 run through the 5:49 mark of the quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Four Liberty players scored in double figures in tonight's game (Ionescu, Howard, Dolson, Whitcomb).
Sabrina Ionescu finished with a team-high 22 points, including 50% (4-8) shooting from deep, a game-high 10 rebounds, and three assists - her fifth double-digit rebounding game of the season.
Natasha Howard finished with 16 points on 41.7% (5-12) shooting from the field, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Stefanie Dolson totaled 16 points on 77.8% (7-9) shooting from the floor and two rebounds.
Sami Whitcomb came off the bench and finished with 12 points on 57.1% (4-7) shooting from the field, including 40% (2-5) from deep, eight rebounds, and two steals. Seven of her 12 points came in the third quarter.
Highlighted by her 17-point first quarter, Sophie Cunningham finished with 23 points on 66.7% (10-15) shooting from the field, including 37.5% (3-8) from three-point range.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 8, 2022
- Aces Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum Headline WNBA Skills Challenge Saturday - Las Vegas Aces
- Lynx Guard Aerial Power Named Western Conference Player of the Week - Minnesota Lynx
- WNBA Skills Challenge to Feature All-Stars Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty, Jonquel Jones of the Connecticut Sun and Courtney Vandersloot of the Chicago Sky - WNBA
- Azurá Stevens and Courtney Vandersloot Set to Compete in 2022 WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge - Chicago Sky
- Sabrina Ionescu to Compete in WNBA Skills Challenge on July 9 - New York Liberty
- Sabrina Ionescu Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week - New York Liberty
- Storm Break Franchise Shooting Record in 106-69 Win at LA - Seattle Storm
- 4-Point Shot Highlights Special Rules for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022 - WNBA
- Kelsey Mitchell Ties Season-High with 27 Points as Fever Head to All-Star Break - Indiana Fever
- Postgame Notes & Stats: Phoenix Mercury vs New York Liberty - July 7, 2022 - Phoenix Mercury
- POSTGAME NOTES: Mercury 84, Liberty 81 - New York Liberty
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