Phoenix Mercury triumphs over New York Liberty to force Game 3

In the United States, the Phoenix Mercury secured a decisive victory against the New York Liberty, winning 86-60 during Game 2 of their best-of-three WNBA playoff series on Wednesday night. The win came as a much-needed rebound for the Mercury, who had faced significant challenges in Game 1, where Satou Sabally struggled with her shooting. Both Sabally and Alyssa Thomas contributed 15 points each in this game, helping the team establish a strong lead early on. The Mercury's performance was bolstered by a series of successful shots that had previously eluded them in the first game. Despite having an emotional boost from the return of Breanna Stewart, who had sprained her MCL during Game 1, the Liberty faced difficulties in maintaining momentum. Stewart, while back on the court, only managed to score six points in 20 minutes. The Mercury took advantage of these struggles, leading by 14 points at halftime and scoring the first six points of the third quarter to extend their lead to 20. New York's offense faltered significantly, missing 12 consecutive shots during the third quarter, resulting in limited scoring from their starting group. The Mercury's strategy highlighted their strong performance in the second quarter, going on a 13-0 run after holding a 36-30 lead. Meanwhile, New York struggled with foul shooting, with one of their best free-throw shooters, Sabrina Ionescu, missing her initial four attempts. The game maintained excitement for the sold-out crowd that included celebrities, but the Liberty's inability to capitalize on key opportunities ultimately hindered their performance. As a result of this win, the Mercury have evened the series, setting up a decisive Game 3 in Phoenix, where both teams will compete for a chance to advance further in the playoffs. This upcoming match will showcase the resilience of both teams as they aim for victory after a thrilling and competitive series thus far.