Mercury vs. Liberty Preview: Liberty Needs a Win to Save Face, Can the Home Dragons Mercury Stop Them?

On August 27 at 10 AM, the WNBA regular season continues with the Phoenix Mercury hosting the New York Liberty at home.

The Liberty lost their last game at home to the Sun, ending an eight-game winning streak, and only scored 64 points, their worst performance of the season. They urgently need a win to save face. Of course, the Liberty’s overall record is still outstanding, with 25 wins and 5 losses, placing them first in the league with a clear advantage, leading the second-placed Sun by 2.5 games. The Liberty’s offense and defense are both top-tier in the league, averaging 85.5 points per game (second in the league) and allowing only 75.8 points per game (third in the league), with an average point differential of 9.7, leading the league.

The Liberty boast a super-luxury lineup, with core player Stewart averaging 19.6 points, 9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, showcasing versatility. Ionescu averages 19.6 points and 5.9 assists and is an excellent outside shooter. Jonquel Jones averages 14.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, while Marine Johannes averages 12.7 points. Veteran Vandersloot averages 6.9 points and 4.9 assists, with all five starters being All-Star caliber players. Off the bench, they have players like Thornton, Phillip, and Sabally. Currently, Johannes is listed as questionable due to injury, having missed several consecutive games.

This season, after acquiring All-Star player Cooper, the Mercury’s performance has improved significantly, with a record of 16 wins and 14 losses, temporarily ranking sixth in the league. The Mercury are a team that excels offensively but struggles defensively, averaging 83.3 points per game (fourth in the league), but also allowing 84.3 points per game (fourth-worst in the league). The Mercury’s poor defense is partly due to the aging of their roster, including Griner and Taurasi, who are veterans.

The Mercury’s performance has been somewhat inconsistent, with three wins and two losses in their five games since the Olympics, without any winning or losing streaks. In their last game, they narrowly won against the Dream by two points, avoiding back-to-back losses. The Mercury’s top scorer is Cooper, averaging 22.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. Griner, known as the female monster, averages 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, while Taurasi averages 15.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. Craig averages 11.6 points and 6.8 assists, supplemented by players like Billings, Cunningham, and Allen, giving the Mercury decent depth, although the team’s average age is on the higher side.

This season, the two teams have met twice, each winning on their home court. The Mercury have a home record of 9 wins and 4 losses, far better than their away record of 7 wins and 10 losses, indicating they perform well at home. The Liberty, on the other hand, have lost the fewest away games in the league. In this rematch, the Mercury will be without Allen and Osbourne, but the rest can play. The Mercury hope to leverage their home advantage for a winning streak, while the Liberty aim to avoid consecutive losses. This game holds a lot of suspense.

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