PHOENIX — The WNBA playoffs are here, with the Phoenix Mercury set to face the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the first round Sunday afternoon.
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Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) celebrates their 82-66 win against the Connecticut Sun in Phoenix, at PHX Arena on Aug 5, 2025. © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Phoenix Preview
The Mercury ended the season with a 27-17 record, their second-most wins in a single season since 2014, when they won 29 games. Phoenix secured the No. 4 seed and will have home-court advantage to begin the series. The team enters Sunday’s matchup on a three-game losing streak, with its most recent loss coming against the Dallas Wings on Sept. 11.
Jul 25, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally (0) looks to drive past New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Head coach Nate Tibbetts expressed the importance of keeping all of his players healthy before the playoffs, even if that meant limiting their minutes towards the end of the season.
“Collectively, the front office [and] coaches, there was a decision to be made,” he said, according to Desert Wave Media. “Do you try to see the big picture and rest and play less minutes? Or, do you need to keep playing? We decided to rest some people and play them less minutes. I guess you never really know for sure what the right answer is until Sunday comes.”
Sep 11, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots against Chicago Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere (12) during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
New York Preview
The Liberty also finished the season with a 27-17 record, securing the No. 5 seed as the Mercury held the tiebreaker between the two teams during the regular season. New York comes to Phoenix on a three-game win streak, defeating the Chicago Sky on Sept. 11 in its final game of the season.
Sep 11, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) goes to the basket against Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The reigning WNBA Champions have had their fair share of struggles this season, with key players out with injuries and missing over 10 games. Now that everyone is healthy, New York hopes to put those struggles behind them as they chase a second consecutive championship.
“All the things you could imagine had happened to this team,” Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said, according to ESPN’s Michael Voepel. “But we don’t want our run to be easy, we just want it to be really, really worth it. I think we’re embracing the hard and showing up every day ready for whatever challenge we’re going to have, and whoever we’re going to have with us.”
THE WNBA PLAYOFFS ARE SET 🔥
Who’s your pick to take home the title? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Kgr4uL0USE
— espnW (@espnW) September 12, 2025
This series will feature two teams that followed similar paths this season, overcoming injuries and looking to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty play Game 1 on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 2 p.m.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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