Mercury stun wounded Liberty in WNBA playoff rematch shock

The Brooklyn crowd sat in stunned silence. Less than 24 hours after the Liberty talked about “waking up,” they were put to sleep by the very team that ended their 2025 season. Phoenix Mercury 92 – New York Liberty 76. It wasn't even that close.

The moment the final buzzer sounded at Barclays Centre on Wednesday night, the weight of a franchise in crisis became undeniable. New York’s three‑game home losing streak – their longest since 2022 – stretched to four after a brutal 16‑point drubbing at the hands of the Phoenix Mercury. The same Mercury side that knocked them out of the playoffs last September. The same Mercury side that now looked faster, sharper and hungrier on their own floor.

Wounded Liberty no match for Mercury’s firepower

It was supposed to be a get‑right night. The Liberty (3‑5) had just blown a 10‑point fourth‑quarter lead against expansion Portland. Sabrina Ionescu was back in the building. Satou Sabally, the former Mercury star who left Phoenix this off‑season, was warming up with the team. But the script flipped before tip‑off.

Ionescu was ruled out with a back injury – a completely different ailment from the foot problem that sidelined her for the season’s first five games. Then, one hour before game time, Satou Sabally was scratched due to illness. The crowd, which had been buzzing with anticipation to see the former Mercury forward face her old squad, turned into a morgue of disappointment.

Without their two newest stars, the Liberty looked lost. Breanna Stewart tried to drag her team forward – 24 points, 9 rebounds – but it was a lone army against a Mercury offence that moved the ball like a championship contender. Kahleah Copper torched New York’s porous perimeter defence for 27 points on 10‑of‑16 shooting, including 5 three‑pointers. Alyssa Thomas posted another triple‑double threat: 14 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds. Phoenix shot 52% from the field and 44% from deep. New York? 39% overall, 29% from three, and a brutal 17 turnovers that turned into 24 Mercury points.

Public outcry: “Embarrassing” – fans turn on Liberty

Within minutes of the final buzzer, X (formerly Twitter) erupted. “This isn’t the Liberty we were promised,” posted one user with nearly 50,000 views. “We ‘won’ the off‑season? We’re losing the season.” The phrase “Fire DeMarco” began trending locally in New York as angry fans blamed first‑year coach Chris DeMarco for rotations that left Jonquel Jones on the bench for long stretches while Mercury guards ran wild.

On Reddit’s r/WNBA, a thread titled “Is the Liberty season already over?” racked up hundreds of comments. “They look like a team that’s never played together. Ionescu can’t stay healthy. Sabally can’t get on the court. Stewart looks exhausted. This is a disaster,” read the top‑voted reply. Even former players chimed in: retired All‑Star Candace Parker posted a single emoji – a shocked face – that was retweeted over 10,000 times.

Meanwhile, Mercury fans gloated. “Satou Sabally came to Brooklyn to watch her old team destroy her new team,” one Phoenix account mocked. “Easiest W of the year.” The Liberty’s official team account, which usually posts celebratory highlights, went silent for two hours – an eternity in the 24/7 news cycle.

What happens next? Double‑header nightmare

The schedule offers no mercy. These two teams meet again on Friday night – back at Barclays Centre – in an immediate rematch. The Liberty have less than 48 hours to fix a broken offence, a disorganised defence and a locker room that, by all accounts, is full of frustration.

• Sabrina Ionescu is considered day‑to‑day with the back issue, but the Liberty may choose to rest her again Friday to avoid long‑term damage.
• Satou Sabally is expected to be available after illness, but the reunion storyline has lost its sheen – she’ll face a Phoenix team that played like they had nothing to prove.
• The Liberty’s power ranking free‑fall continues. They entered the week as title favourites; they now sit 11th in the standings, just two games above the league basement.

Final thoughts

This isn’t just a losing streak. It’s a full‑blown identity crisis. The New York Liberty spent the winter collecting stars like baseball cards. They hired a new coach, signed the biggest free agent on the market, and told the world they were ready to dominate. Instead, they’ve become a cautionary tale of how talent means nothing without chemistry, health or defensive effort. Phoenix didn’t just beat them – they exposed them. And with the rematch looming Friday, the question isn’t whether the Liberty can win. It’s whether they can survive the week without their season collapsing entirely.

This story is still developing.