Game Preview: Liberty Kickoff Four-Game West Coast Trip in Phoenix Against the Mercury June 12, 2021
By Justin “Say Say” Rivers
In a matchup that pits two of the WNBA’s three remaining original franchises that are both in the midst of celebrating their 25th season, Betnijah Laney and the New York Liberty (5-4, second in the Eastern Conference) are looking to snap a three-game skid in the Valley of the Sun against Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury (5-5, fourth in the Western Conference).
In their last three games, the Liberty have run the gauntlet of the league’s who’s who, facing two teams that are currently .700 or better on the season. While that .500 or over trend won’t end against the Mercury, New York will not only have fresh legs after a week off, but Phoenix will also be on their third game in five nights and in the middle of a dense stretch of their schedule. Above all – however – the Liberty will need solid bounce-back performances from
Friday night’s WNBA action brings a pair of rematches. First, the Atlanta Dream (4-5) will look to avenge Wednesday’s home loss when they again host the Seattle Storm (8-2). Then, the Phoenix Mercury (5-4) and Dallas Wings (4-5) meet for the third and final time this season in what should be another close contest.
The Las Vegas Aces (5-3) and New York Liberty (5-2) both will be looking for the sixth win of the season when they meet in Brooklyn (7 p.m. ET). After Tuesday night’s thriller, the Chicago Sky (2-5) and Phoenix Mercury (4-3) face off again (10 p.m. ET). A matchup between the two teams at the bottom of the standings the Indiana Fever (1-8) and Los Angeles Sparks (2-3) closes out Thursday night’s slate (10:30 p.m. ET).
Liz Cambage and the Las Vegas Aces will be playing the Connecticut Sun for the first time since Curt Miller comments that warranted a one-game suspension. Also, the Los Angeles Sparks face the Dallas Wings, the Phoenix Mercury take on the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever square off with the Seattle Storm.
Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
The Atlanta Dream (3-2) take on the New York Liberty (5-1) in Brooklyn at 2 p.m. ET Saturday afternoon in the first contest of a two-game slate for the WNBA.
The Dream have won three games in the row, all by close margins, and are a Top 5 team in the league, meaning they’ve leaned toward their upside so far. The Liberty haven’t played in a while, but also have some momentum from a two-game winning streak. However, New York’s strength of schedule isn’t looking too good. All the teams it has faced currently have losing records.