The 23-0 Third Quarter That Torched Phoenix's Season and Snapped New York's Worst Skid Since 2002

WHOA. If you blinked, you missed it. The New York Liberty just pulled off a WILD 23-0 third-quarter surge that absolutely obliterated the Phoenix Mercury last night, ending in an 84-74 victory. Seriously, what in the world happened? This wasn't just a win, it was a statement, breaking New York's three-game losing streak, their longest drought since way back in 2002! Meanwhile, for Phoenix, this is their fourth straight L, and their season is looking rough at 2-6.

Marine Johannes Went Nuclear and Phoenix Had No Answer

Let's talk about Marine Johannes. She was on fire, dropping a game-high 21 points, sinking a career-high SEVEN three-pointers and missing only twice. Johannes basically kicked off the game like a rocket, pouring in 12 points and three assists in an exciting first quarter, hitting four of five threes. By halftime, she already had 15 points on five-for-six from beyond the arc. But the real fireworks started in the third quarter. Phoenix had actually clawed their way to a 43-42 halftime lead, thanks to a 7-0 run in the second. Then, BOOM! New York went on that unthinkable 23-0 run. Jonquel Jones piled on 10 points in that decisive third, and the Liberty forced five consecutive turnovers. New York stormed into the fourth with a dominant 72-55 lead, and Phoenix never got back to single digits. The Liberty shot an impressive 14-for-30 (46.7%) from three-point range compared to Phoenix's 10-for-30 (33.3%). Plus, New York owned points off turnovers with a 26-9 advantage. Brutal!

Mercury's Season Is Already in Trouble, Despite New Faces

This was a big game, a rematch of last year's playoffs where Phoenix eliminated New York. Last night was a different story. Phoenix's Kahleah Copper led them with 19 points, but she was ice cold, shooting just six of eighteen from the floor. Natasha Mack added 14, and Alyssa Thomas chipped in nine points, seven rebounds, and nine assists. Two players made their season debuts: New York's Leonie Fiebich scored nine points in 33 minutes after finishing her Spanish League season, and Phoenix's Monique Akoa Makani put up nine points in 19 minutes after her season in France. New York even got Betnijah Laney-Hamilton back after missing three games, scoring seven points off the bench. Even with new faces, and New York missing All-Stars Sabrina Ionescu (sore back) and Satou Sabally (illness), Phoenix couldn't capitalize. Their 2-6 record is a tough pill to swallow this early in the season.

The Liberty are now 4-4, climbing back to an even record after that horrible losing streak. Phoenix is reeling at 2-6, staring down an early-season hole. What a swing! For New York, this win is a massive momentum boost, showing what they can do even without key players. For Phoenix, they need to stop the bleeding, and fast. The season is young, but that 23-0 run will haunt the Mercury for a while.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.