Mercury silence Barclays crowd as Liberty defend their fans ahead of decisive Game 3

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury rolled to a 26-point win over the New York Liberty in Game 2 in Brooklyn, a performance that quieted the Barclays Center crowd and sharpened the storyline heading into a decisive third game. After the lopsided result, Sabrina Ionescu said she had “no reaction” to comments from two Mercury players who had criticized Liberty fans in the wake of the contest. “I think everyone knows whose arena is louder,” Ionescu said Friday ahead of a winner-takes-all Game 3. “It was a blowout game, so I’m not sure what they would have been cheering for.” She added that Brooklyn’s atmosphere was dulled in part because her team hadn’t given the home crowd much to cheer about in the blowout, a line that underscored the emotional edge of the series as it moved to Phoenix.

Kahleah Copper, who fueled the Mercury with 26 points in the win, said she was surprised by how hushed the Barclays Center felt. “I don’t think it was loud to start,” Copper said. “I was shocked. I was expecting us to have to deal with some crowd, some court-side people. Like, it was quiet.” Copper’s reactions reflected the broader sense that the Liberty’s once-rallying home environment didn’t rise to the level of what Phoenix typically enjoys on the road. Satou Sabally, who rode on her sister Nyara Sabally’s float during the Liberty’s championship parade last October, amplified the contrast by predicting the atmosphere would be markedly different in PHX. “Loud, louder than here,” Sabally said, muttering a quick “oop” as Copper finished speaking. Copper also suggested Mercury fans would not abandon their team in this deciding moment, saying, “They will stay to the end of the game. They’re backing us up. … It’s different.”

Breanna Stewart, a Liberty veteran who has helped stabilize the team’s culture amid playoff pressure, defended the New York fan base. “I can’t wait to hear it,” Stewart said when asked about Mercury comments. She also emphasized the fans’ loyalty, noting that Liberty supporters remained engaged in a tough game and would not simply flip on the team at the first sign of adversity. “Our fans support us through and through and we know we didn’t do a good job for them. We know that that game was tough for them to stay engaged in and on top of it, but they were still there and our New York fans aren’t going to flip on us that easily.”

Jonquel Jones did not address Copper and Sabally’s comments directly, opting instead to focus on the task ahead. “I don’t have anything to say because I’m focused on the game right now,” Jones said after shootaround. Yet she offered a thread of foreshadowing about high-stakes moments in the playoffs, underscoring why a return to a hostile environment can elevate performances. “This is the stuff that you dream about. The big shots. The big moments. The opportunity to still chase the championship,” Jones added. “It’s because we’re still in the playoffs and now we come into a hostile environment. And it’s our time now to make their fans quiet.”

The Liberty said they didn’t want Wednesday’s loss to define the season or the perception of their fan base. Ionescu, who has helped build the Liberty’s presence at Barclays Center over five seasons, called the loss a disservice to their supporters. “That wasn’t how we play, and I think we know that,” she said. “So we got to come out and take care of business tonight just to be able to give our fans another opportunity to really help us in what it is we’re trying to accomplish.” She added with conviction that the team is not indifferent to the fan base’s loyalty or the weight of expectation. “We’re not the type of team that doesn’t care,” she said. “And on a personal level, I know I care. I care about the product that we put out on the floor for them to watch, like, put in a lot of work to be able to have that type of fan base and that type of support and hopefully we can be back there pretty soon.”

With the series tied at one game apiece, Friday’s Game 3 shifts to PHX Arena, where the Mercury will attempt to stifle a Liberty squad eager to prove its home supporters are not a fairweather crowd. The atmosphere in Phoenix is expected to be electric, given the stakes and the contrasting fan environments that have colored the first two games. Sabally’s early prediction of a louder PHX reaction, and Copper’s candid note about the Brooklyn crowd, added a layer of theater to what is already a high-pressure series. Liberty fans have voiced support despite the scoreline and the late-game mood in Brooklyn, and the players’ comments reflect a broader narrative about the importance of crowd energy in a postseason context.

The contrast between the two markets — a Brooklyn arena known for its loud, organized support and a Phoenix venue with a reputation for raucous, homegrown energy — has become part of the strategic chess match as teams stage the decisive game. The Liberty will lean on Ionescu’s leadership and Stewart’s experience, while the Mercury will pivot to maximize the energy of a home crowd and the momentum of a potential clinching performance in Game 3. The immediate question is whether Liberty fans can respond in kind in a hostile PHX setting and whether the team can convert the pressure into a turning point in the series.

As the teams prepare for Friday’s clash, the dialogue around fan bases and their impact will continue to be part of the playoff narrative. What remains clear is that, regardless of the venue, the players recognize the significance of delivering in front of their supporters — and fans on both sides are expected to play a central role in shaping the outcome of the title pursuit.