23-0 Run Fuels Liberty Win

The New York Liberty (4-4) used a dominant third quarter, including a franchise-record 23-0 run, to pull away from the Phoenix Mercury (2-6) for an 84-74 win.

Marine Johannes (5'9''-G-1995) led the Liberty with 21 points and five assists while setting a career high with seven made 3-pointers, shooting 77.8 percent (7-for-9) from long range. Johannes reached 1,000 career points in the win and passed Vickie Johnson (221) for the eighth-most made 3-pointers in Liberty franchise history. Johannes scored 12 points in the first quarter alone for her highest-scoring first quarter since 2022. Johannès became the first player in WNBA history with four games of at least five made 3-pointers within her team's first eight games of a season.
Jonquel Jones (6'6''-C-1994, college: GWU) recorded a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds with four assists for her second consecutive double-double, her first time recording back-to-back double-doubles since June 1, 2025. Jones reached double figures in rebounding while knocking down at least 3 triples for the 17th time in her career, the third-most such games in WNBA history and only trailing Breanna Stewart and Tamika Catchings. Stewart put up 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal in her 300th career WNBA outing. She finished the night with 6,145 career points, the second-most by any player in WNBA history through 300 career games.
Leonie Fiebich (6'4''-F-2000) made her season debut, scoring the Liberty's first five points of the game and finishing with nine points on 75 percent (3-for-4) shooting from the field and 66.7 percent (2-for-3) shooting from beyond the arc while grabbing a pair of steals. Xu Han (6'11''-C-1999) led the Liberty's reserves with eight points on 50 percent (3-for-6) shooting from the field with three rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes. Han has now scored at least five points in four consecutive contests.
New York shot 83.3 percent (5-for-6) from deep in the opening quarter, finishing the period with just one turnover and a 24-22 lead. The Liberty finished the first half with a 50 percent (8-for-16) mark from long range and a 20-16 advantage on the boards, but Phoenix entered the break up by one, 43-42.
The Liberty took control in the third quarter with a historic 23-0 run, the longest scoring run in franchise history. New York's defense held Phoenix scoreless over the final six minutes of the third quarter, the longest scoreless stretch by a Liberty opponent to end a quarter since 2016. The Liberty forced 13 Mercury turnovers in the second half to secure an 84-74 victory. New York scored 26 points off Phoenix's 17 turnovers in the contest, the team's most points off turnovers forced in a game since June 1, 2025.
Courtesy of: oursportscentral.com