The Liberty Pulled Off a 23-0 Run and Nobody in the League Is Ready For It

Woah, hold up, did y'all see what the New York Liberty just did? Seriously, if you blinked, you missed one of the most insane comebacks we've seen this season. They just snapped a nasty three-game slide by absolutely torching the Phoenix Mercury, and now these two are running it back Friday night in New York. Phoenix is staring down a four-game losing streak, and honestly, after that last performance, you gotta wonder if they have an answer for what the Liberty just unleashed.

Liberty Found Their Fire When It Counted

Let's be real, the Liberty were teetering on the edge. Facing a potential 3-5 start, something they haven't seen since 2022, they needed a spark. And boy, did they get one. How about a franchise-record 23-0 run in the third quarter? Yeah, you heard that right, TWENTY-THREE UNANSWERED POINTS. That's not just winning a quarter, that's outright dominating it and ripping the heart out of the opposition. Marine Johannes was absolutely on fire, dropping 21 points and dishing out five assists. She hit a career-best seven three-pointers and even crossed the 1,000-point mark for her career. The woman is averaging 12.6 points per game, but last night she looked like an MVP. Jonquel Jones brought the power with 17 points and 12 rebounds, earning her second consecutive double-double. That kind of performance is huge, especially with Sabrina Ionescu sidelined with back soreness, having only played one game this year. Jonquel Jones summed it up, saying Phoenix is "going to come out with a little bit more intensity" and the Liberty need to "take it to another level" even after winning "the right way."

Mercury Need More, And They Know It

On the flip side, the Phoenix Mercury are struggling. Hard. Their record is sitting at 2-6 after that 84-74 loss to the Liberty, pushing their losing streak to four games. Natasha Mack tried to keep them in it, tying her career-high with 14 points, but it wasn't enough. Mack is staying optimistic, telling reporters, "We just have to stick together and continue building on what we're doing now. It's getting better. We see it. But we just have to give a little bit more." While that team unity is crucial, a "little bit more" feels like an understatement when you're down 23-0 in a quarter. Kahleah Copper did pour in 19 points to lead the Mercury, and she's now 10th all-time in Phoenix scoring with 1,370 points, averaging 18.8 points per contest. But even with her scoring, the team needs to find a way to stop those catastrophic runs. So, here we are, Friday night. Can Phoenix figure out how to stop the bleeding and avoid a fifth straight loss? Or will the Liberty's newfound momentum, fueled by that absolutely bananas 23-0 run, carry them to another victory? This early in the season, every game helps shape team form, and Phoenix needs to find some answers fast if they want to get back on track.

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