Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty
· Women's National Basketball AssociationPauline Astier sparks Liberty surge as New York holds off Mercury 75-68
The teams played two days earlier and the Liberty used a 23-0 run to close out the third quarter and take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
On Friday, the Liberty (5-4) led 54-52 with a minute left in the third quarter before using a 13-5 run over the next four minutes to go up 67-57 with 6:59 left in the game. The final play of the spurt saw Jonquel Jones block Kahleah Copper and then Astier threw the ball down the court to a streaking Rebekah Gardner for a layup.
Phoenix (2-7) which has lost five straight for the first time since 2023, answered with an 8-0 run to get within 67-65 with 3:16 left. Astier ended New York's drought with a driving layup to restore the two-score advantage.
The Mercury trailed 71-65 with 46 seconds left when Monique Akoa Makani hit a 3-pointer. Alyssa Thomas then got a steal on the next possession and Phoenix had a chance to tie it, but DeWanna Bonner's 30-footer was off. Astier hit two free throws with 8.8 seconds left to seal the win.
Kahleah Copper did what she could to keep the Mercury in the game in the second half. After missing her first seven shots from the field, she had 14 of her 16 points in the third and fourth quarters.
The game marked the return of New York's Satou Sabally, who was playing against her former team. Sabally signed as a free agent in the offseason with the Liberty, leaving the Mercury. She missed Wednesday's game as she was still recovering from an illness that forced her to miss most of New York's game against Portland on Monday.
Sabally didn't start, but came off the bench midway through the first quarter. She finished with four points in 10 minutes.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as New York led 34-31 at the break. The teams combined to miss their first eight shots.
Liberty: have a few days off before hosting former coach Sandy Brondello and the Toronto Tempo.
Regular Season Series
NY leads series 2-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 68 - 75 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 68 - 75 |
| 4th 0.8 |  |
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes free throw 2 of 2 | 68 - 75 |
| 4th 0.8 | |
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes free throw 1 of 2 | 68 - 74 |
| 4th 0.8 |  |
Jovana Nogic enters the game for Monique Akoa Makani | 68 - 73 |
Statistics
 PHX |
 NY |
|
|---|---|---|
| 21-62 | FG | 26-60 |
| 34 | Field Goal % | 43 |
| 6-24 | 3PT | 8-25 |
| 25 | Three Point % | 32 |
| 20-22 | FT | 15-17 |
| 91 | Free Throw % | 88 |
| 23 | Rebounds | 40 |
| 3 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| 20 | Defensive Rebounds | 33 |
| 14 | Assists | 18 |
| 11 | Steals | 5 |
| 3 | Blocks | 5 |
| 9 | Turnovers | 16 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 3 |
| 9 | Total Turnovers | 19 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 8 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 22 |
| 7 | Fast Break Points | 4 |
| 22 | Points in Paint | 30 |
| 20 | Fouls | 21 |
| 0 | Largest Lead | 11 |
| 0 | Lead Changes | 0 |
| 0 | Percent Led | 93 |
Game Information
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Attendance: 17,579 · Capacity:
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 6 | W8 | 0.79310346 | 23 |
 Las Vegas |
3 | 8 | W1 | 0.7037037 | 19 |
 Golden State |
3 | 8 | L1 | 0.7037037 | 19 |
 Dallas |
4 | 9 | W1 | 0.6666667 | 18 |
 Portland |
11.5 | 17 | L3 | 0.39285713 | 11 |
 Los Angeles |
12 | 17 | L6 | 0.37037036 | 10 |
 Phoenix |
12.5 | 18 | W2 | 0.35714287 | 10 |
 Seattle |
17.5 | 24 | L7 | 0.2 | 6 |
2025-26 Eastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indiana |
- | 10 | W4 | 0.64285713 | 18 |
 Atlanta |
1 | 10 | W3 | 0.61538464 | 16 |
 New York |
2 | 12 | W3 | 0.5714286 | 16 |
 Washington |
2.5 | 12 | W3 | 0.5555556 | 15 |
 Toronto |
7.5 | 17 | L4 | 0.37037036 | 10 |
 Chicago |
8.5 | 18 | L2 | 0.33333334 | 9 |
 Connecticut |
11 | 21 | L3 | 0.25 | 7 |
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