Mercury Defeat Liberty with Historic Triple-Double from Thomas

The Phoenix Mercury achieved a significant milestone by defeating the New York Liberty 79-73 in Game 3 of the WNBA playoffs on March 15, 2024. With this victory, the Mercury eliminated the defending champions and advanced to the semifinals. Central to this achievement was Alyssa Thomas, who made history by recording the first 20-point triple-double in WNBA postseason history, finishing the game with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

In addition to Thomas’s stellar performance, Satou Sabally contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Mercury, who secured the fourth seed in the playoffs. The team will now face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the best-of-five semifinal round, beginning on Sunday. Thomas’s triple-double marks her ninth of the season and solidifies her status as a dominant force in the league, as she now accounts for five of the seven playoff triple-doubles recorded in WNBA history.

The Mercury showcased a strong rebounding effort, holding a 49-33 advantage over the Liberty. DeWanna Bonner also made her mark by surpassing Candace Parker to claim the record for the most rebounds in playoff history, with a total of 614. Despite the defeat, Breanna Stewart of the Liberty had a remarkable game, scoring 30 points and contributing significantly during the critical moments of the fourth quarter.

Throughout the matchup, both teams displayed competitive energy, with five ties and 13 lead changes. By the end of the third quarter, the Mercury held a narrow lead of 60-59. The Liberty managed to stay within striking distance, thanks in part to Stewart’s three-point play that brought the score to 65-64 with just over six minutes remaining.

However, Thomas quickly responded with a basket, followed by two assists and a rebound, allowing the Mercury to pull ahead 72-64. In the final moments, Stewart’s free throws narrowed the deficit to 76-73. Unfortunately for the Liberty, turnovers and missed shots sealed their fate, as they finished with a disappointing 7-of-32 from beyond the arc, including a staggering 1-for-17 in the second half.

As the Mercury prepare for their semifinal matchup against the Lynx, the team’s resilience and strategic play will be crucial in their pursuit of the championship. The performance of Thomas, Sabally, and Bonner will be key as they continue to challenge some of the best teams in the league.