PHOENIX – Alyssa Thomas recorded the first 20-point triple-double in WNBA postseason history. The Phoenix Mercury advanced to the second round of the playoffs by eliminating the defending champion New York Liberty with a score of 79-73 in Game 3 on Friday night. Satou Sabally contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Mercury, who, placed in fourth place, will face the Minnesota Lynx, the top-ranked team, on Sunday, starting the best-of-five semifinal. Thomas, who accumulated 11 rebounds and 11 assists, has five of the seven triple-doubles recorded in WNBA playoff history. Sami Whitcomb scored 13 points and Kahleah Copper added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Mercury, who dominated the boards with a 49-33 advantage. DeWanna Bonner grabbed eight rebounds, surpassing Candace Parker and setting a new historical record with 614 rebounds in the playoffs. Breanna Stewart, despite suffering a sprain of the medial collateral ligament of her left knee in overtime of Game 1, scored 30 points for the Liberty, including the team’s last 14 points in the final quarter. Sabrina Ionescu added 22 points, but the rest of the Liberty players had a less outstanding performance. The match was marked by five ties and 13 lead changes during the first three quarters, which ended with Phoenix leading 60-59. However, New York failed to lead in the final quarter.
A Stewart three-pointer brought the Liberty within 65-64 with 6:51 to play. However, Thomas responded with a basket, two assists, and a rebound, completing her ninth triple-double of the season, allowing the Mercury to take a 72-64 lead with 5:36 on the clock.
Stewart made two free throws, going 12 of 15 from the line, cutting the deficit to 76-73 with 1:10 to play. The Liberty turned the ball over and missed three shots in the final minute, finishing 7 of 32 from three-point range, including 1 of 17 in the second half. The Mercury built a 12-point lead in the second quarter, but thanks to Ionescu’s 12 points, the Liberty managed to cut the deficit to 45-41 at halftime.
