The New York Liberty took a while but eventually bounced back from their first loss after a record-setting start.
The Liberty hope to put together some stronger opening minutes Thursday night when they host the Phoenix Mercury, who are on the second night of a back-to-back.
After taking a 102-88 loss to the host Indiana Fever on Saturday afternoon in Caitlin Clark’s celebrated return from a quad injury, the Liberty wrapped up the Commissioner’s Cup portion of their schedule Tuesday night by rallying for an 86-81 win over the Atlanta Dream.
New York improved to 6-0 at home while matching its second-closest victory margin in a home game. The Liberty had to overcome a 17-point deficit with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter.
“I was really proud of the way we fought,” said New York guard Sabrina Ionescu. “I think you were able to see a team that stayed together, dug really deep and just figured it out on the fly.”
New York outscored Atlanta 39-17 after falling into the big deficit – a spree triggered by Ionescu. She scored a game-high 34 points, which included nine points in the final 3:43 of the third as she pulled New York within 68-60 entering the fourth quarter.
“It was hard to find some energy and we finally found it,” said Liberty coach Sandy Brondello. “So I’m proud of how we responded and finally got this win against a really good team.”
Ionescu is coming off her two highest-scoring games of the season after also scoring 34 Saturday. The guard is shooting 32 of 54 (59.3 percent) in her past three games after going 3 of 17 in New York’s eight-point win over the Washington Mystics on June 5.
Phoenix (9-4) is halfway through a four-game trip and seeking a season-high fourth straight victory. The Mercury followed up wins over the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces by getting an 83-75 road win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.
Alyssa Thomas and Lexi Held scored 14 points apiece as the Mercury placed five in double figures. Thomas also finished with 11 assists and eight rebounds for her fourth straight game with double-digit assists.
“We’re going to be good in Phoenix as long as she’s (here), that’s how good she is,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said of Thomas. “It’s our job to put good players around her, competitive players, shot makers but she just competes at such a high level and plays with such a force.”
The Mercury countered 40.6 percent shooting from the field by making 23-of-27 free throws. It was Phoenix’s sixth win this season when shooting 45 percent or lower.
–Field Level Media
