Mercury rout Liberty 86-60 to even series, set up decisive Game 3

The Phoenix Mercury routed the New York Liberty 86-60 in Game 2 of the first-round WNBA playoff series, handing New York its most lopsided loss of the season and the franchise’s second-worst playoff defeat. The win evened the best-of-three series at 1-1 and sets up a winner-takes-all Game 3 in Phoenix on Friday.

With three quarters in the books, the game had the feel of a rout. Sabrina Ionescu, wearing her warmup jacket, sat on the Liberty bench alongside Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart as New York entered the fourth trailing by 26, a moment that underscored the frustration inside the visiting locker room. The Liberty’s benching late in the game wasn’t a reward for the work of the prior three quarters, but rather the result of a blowout that had widened the gap before the final period even began.

The Mercury built a lead that no comeback could quickly erase, taking control before halftime and sustaining it through the second half to secure the victory. The result moves the series back to Phoenix for Game 3, a winner-takes-all affair that will decide which team advances to the next round.

In the broader context, the win puts the reigning champions’ season on the line as the series shifts to Friday. A victory for Phoenix would push the Mercury into the next round and leave New York facing elimination on the road, while the Liberty would have to regroup quickly to defend their title in a do-or-die game.