PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury have secured the No. 4 seed in the WNBA playoffs following their loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, 88-83, on Tuesday night.
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Sep 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) against Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) during the first half of a WNBA game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Mercury played their entire bench against the Sparks, with most of their starters resting by the end of the third quarter. Phoenix’s Satou Sabally had another great game, scoring 24 points, hitting four 3-pointers and grabbing five rebounds. Alyssa Thomas recorded her eighth triple-double of the season, with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Now that the playoffs are set, Phoenix begins to look ahead to Sunday’s first-round matchup against the No. 5 seed, the New York Liberty.
“We’ve played [New York] pretty well this year,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said, according to the team’s post-game recording. “I think our group is confident in what we can get done and how we want to attack them, but they’re a team that has experience, and they’ve done it together. It’s going to be a great series.”
Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33) drives past Los Angeles Sparks guard Julie Allemand (20) at PHX Arena on Sept. 9, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Liberty have already begun preparing for a potential playoff matchup against the Mercury, according to Lucas Kaplan of Nets Daily. When asked whether Phoenix had also started preparing for New York, Tibbetts said, “Maybe,” though Thomas later confirmed they have.
“For us, it’s about playing our game and we have got to look back at all the video,” she said, according to the team’s post-game notes. The three or four games that we played [The Liberty], the last game, they weren’t at full strength. So, it’s just seeing what worked against them and go out there with a great game plan.”
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Mercury play the Los Angeles Sparks at PHX Arena on Sept. 9, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Mercury will host the Liberty for the first game and, if necessary, will host the third game of the series. Throughout the season, players have spoken about how much the home crowd — the X-Factor — means to them and the energy the fans bring to games. Hosting the first game gives Phoenix an advantage.
“I’m excited,” Sabally said, according to the team’s post-game recording. “… It’s just so loud. The energy is great, whether we win or lose. People stay at the games and it’s been really a tremendous season. The X-Factor has just been a part of it, just like the players.”
The record books are sprinting to keep up with her. Fastest player in WNBA history to achieve a triple-double.
Bookmark that. pic.twitter.com/wqZ2qeGhaS
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 10, 2025
Before the playoffs begin, the Mercury will close out the regular season on the road against the Dallas Wings on Thursday, Sept. 11.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
Mercury return home with playoff seeding at stake against Los Angeles
