Mercury’s chemistry and sacrifice helps power win over New York Liberty

The Mercury and the Liberty looked to be an even matchup, keeping each other under 20 points in the first quarter and within two at halftime. However, Phoenix’s defense only allowed 10 points in the third and went on an offensive run in the fourth.

Phoenix, which started the season off figuring out how to build team chemistry with only one returning player, has now gone 6-1 in its last seven games.

“We battled a lot of adversity early in the season,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said post-game. “… I’m proud of the commitment that our group is making. I thought we really just cared about one thing tonight and that was winning. That’s what it is this time of year. It’s not about your minutes or shots, it’s about impacting the game.”

Kathryn Westbeld had an impact in the game, despite only playing nine minutes in the win. She had two 3-pointers, one of which was made after New York had made one the play before to extend the lead right back.

“The belief that [Westbeld] had in herself to shoot those shots,” he said. “New York was kind of coming back… That’s what it takes to be on a good team. You gotta sacrifice and we’ve got a group that’s doing that right now.”

Kahleah Copper had her second straight over 20-point game, finishing with 22 points and five 3-pointers.

For her, Copper credits her teammates for “buying” into what the team wanted to establish on the first day. On a team filled with new faces, sacrifice was the most important thing to buy into.

“Just us staying patient and really just believing in what we can do,” she said after the game. “And trusting the process of, it’s not gonna be pretty all the time, it’s not gonna be perfect… So, I think that this stretch was really good for us in getting the reps and then practice time. I think it’s important, even not doing so much, but us just being on the floor with each other. Getting that chemistry and it translating to the floor. I think we’re seeing it.”

The Mercury’s growing chemistry and commitment to sacrifice have them peaking at the right time, with the playoffs looming.

The Phoenix Mercury’s next game will be at home as they host the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m.