Phoenix Mercury Advance To Second Round Of WNBA Playoffs After Close Win

By Vaughan Jones
Published: Friday, September 24, 2021 - 1:17pm

Audio icon Download mp3 (831.44 KB)

Phoenix Mercury WNBA title trophies
Phil Latzman/KJZZ
The Phoenix Mercury display their three WNBA title trophies.

The Phoenix Mercury have advanced to the second round of the WNBA Playoffs after a close win against the New York Liberty on Thursday.

The final score was 83-82, decided by a free throw from Mercury forward Brianna Turner with .4 seconds left in the game.

Sophie Cunningham
Phoenix Mercury via Cronkite News
Sophie Cunningham

The Mercury were led by high-scoring performances from guards Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sophie Cunningham.

Cunningham averaged just 6 points per game during the regular season, but scored 21 points against the Liberty.

“Someone had to step up. We were dead, we needed energy, I trusted what I put in in the offseason and I let that thing fly,” said Cunningham.

The Mercury will face off against the Seattle Storm, last year’s WNBA champions, in a single-game elimination matchup on Sunday.

Arts + Entertainment