The Phoenix Mercury had an exhilarating journey during the 2025 playoffs, showcasing their resilience and fighting spirit against formidable opponents. They managed to secure victories against two challenging teams, starting with a match against the New York Liberty, followed by a showdown with the Minnesota Lynx.
Their impressive performance ultimately led them to the WNBA Finals, where they faced off against the Las Vegas Aces. In this high-stakes series, the Aces claimed their third championship title, with A'ja Wilson earning her second Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
What made the Mercury's playoff experience particularly noteworthy was their participation in two overtime games. The first of these critical matchups occurred early on, where the Liberty triumphed over the Mercury with a score of 76-69. Despite the game being held at home for Phoenix, the Liberty pulled off a surprising upset.
Unfortunately for the Mercury, this match did not showcase their best performance; they struggled significantly with their shooting, managing only 23 percent from three-point range. While the team faced challenges, some standout players delivered commendable performances. Kahleah Copper emerged as the leading scorer for the Mercury with 15 points, complemented by two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Alyssa Thomas also contributed substantially, scoring 14 points and amassing nine rebounds along with eight assists and a steal. Additionally, DeWanna Bonner shone off the bench with 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals.
A familiar face played a pivotal role in securing the Liberty's victory—Natasha Cloud, who had previously been a member of the Mercury in 2024 before being traded to the Connecticut Sun in February 2025 and later joining the Liberty. Cloud led New York's scoring with an impressive 23 points, along with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Her all-around performance recalled memories of her time in Phoenix.
Despite the setback in their opening game, the Mercury bounced back with two consecutive wins, including a crucial overtime victory against the Lynx in Game 2 of their series. They triumphed over Minnesota with a score of 89-83, thanks in part to a stellar performance from Satou Sabally, who scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds, along with an assist. Thomas again played a key role, finishing as the second-highest scorer with 19 points, while also contributing 13 assists and eight rebounds. Sami Whitcomb's efforts were notable as well, with her tally of 13 points, six assists, four rebounds, and two steals.
The Mercury truly had to earn their victories throughout these playoff matches, and these hard-fought wins ultimately paved the way for their appearance in the Finals.
For more insights into the Phoenix Mercury's playoff journey and details about their overtime games, don't hesitate to follow us on X by clicking right here.