New york liberty vs Phoenix mercury match player stats
The new york liberty vs phoenix mercury match player stats from the May 29, 2026 matchup at Barclays Center tell a clear story about how New York controlled the game through efficient shooting, dominant rebounding, and balanced playmaking. The New York Liberty defeated the Phoenix Mercury 75-68, improving their record to 5-4 while Phoenix fell to 2-7. The final score was not the result of one overwhelming offensive performance. Instead, New York built its advantage through several small but important statistical edges that added up over four quarters.
The matchup also provides a useful example of why looking only at the final score can miss the real reasons behind a WNBA game. Phoenix shot just 34 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range, while New York shot 43 percent overall and 32 percent from deep. New York also won the rebounding battle 40-23, giving the Liberty more control over possessions and limiting Phoenix’s opportunities to create second chances.
Pauline Astier led New York with 16 points and six assists, while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 13 points. Jonquel Jones produced an important all-around performance with nine rebounds and two blocks, and Breanna Stewart contributed eight rebounds. For Phoenix, Kahleah Copper led all Mercury scorers with 16 points, followed by Alyssa Thomas with 15 points and Monique Akoa Makani with 13.
new york liberty vs phoenix mercury match player stats
The most important numbers from the game are summarized below.
| Category | New York Liberty | Phoenix Mercury |
| Final Score | 75 | 68 |
| Field Goals | 26-60 | 21-62 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 43% | 34% |
| Three-Pointers | 8-25 | 6-24 |
| Three-Point Percentage | 32% | 25% |
| Free Throws | 15-17 | 20-22 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 88% | 91% |
| Rebounds | 40 | 23 |
| Assists | 18 | 14 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 9 |
| Steals | 5 | 11 |
| Blocks | 5 | 3 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 | 3 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 33 | 20 |
| Personal Fouls | 21 | 20 |
These numbers show an interesting contrast. Phoenix protected the ball better and forced more turnovers, but New York was significantly more efficient from the field and dominated the glass.
That combination mattered more than Phoenix’s advantages in steals and turnovers.
How New York Liberty won the game
The Liberty’s 75-68 victory can be explained through three major statistical advantages: shooting efficiency, rebounding, and interior defensive control.
New York shot more efficiently
New York made 26 of 60 field-goal attempts, compared with 21 of 62 for Phoenix. That gave the Liberty a 43 percent shooting rate compared with Phoenix’s 34 percent.
The difference was substantial.
New York needed fewer attempts to produce more made field goals. The Liberty also made eight three-pointers, while Phoenix converted six.
Neither team was dominant from long range, but New York still gained an edge from the perimeter.
Phoenix’s 25 percent three-point shooting meant that many possessions ended without a made field goal. The Mercury made only six of their 24 attempts from outside the arc.
New York was better at 32 percent, making eight of 25.
The two extra three-pointers were not enough by themselves to explain the seven-point margin, but they contributed to the broader efficiency advantage.
The rebounding difference was even more important
The biggest statistical gap in the game came on the boards.
New York collected 40 rebounds.
Phoenix collected only 23.
That is a 17-rebound advantage for the Liberty.
New York also grabbed seven offensive rebounds compared with three for Phoenix. On the defensive glass, the Liberty collected 33 rebounds while the Mercury had 20.
This matters because rebounding affects both sides of the court.
A defensive rebound ends the opponent’s possession. An offensive rebound gives a team another opportunity to score.
New York’s seven offensive rebounds therefore helped create additional possessions, while its 33 defensive rebounds limited Phoenix’s ability to extend possessions.
For a game decided by seven points, a 17-rebound advantage is one of the clearest explanations for the final result.
Pauline Astier led the Liberty
Pauline Astier was New York’s leading scorer, finishing with 16 points.
She also led the Liberty in assists with six.
That combination makes her performance especially important when analyzing the game. Astier was not simply contributing points. She was also involved in creating opportunities for teammates.
New York finished with 18 assists as a team.
Astier’s six assists represented one-third of the Liberty’s total assists.
That is a significant playmaking contribution.
Her 16 points also tied Phoenix’s leading scorer, Kahleah Copper, for the highest individual scoring total in the matchup.
The value of Astier’s performance becomes even clearer when looking beyond the points column. Her ability to contribute both scoring and playmaking helped New York maintain offensive balance.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton provided another scoring option
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton finished with 13 points for New York.
She was the team’s second-leading scorer and also recorded two steals.
That combination is useful because it shows her contribution was not limited to offense.
New York had five steals as a team, and Laney-Hamilton accounted for two of them.
Having a secondary scorer capable of creating defensive plays can help prevent an offense from becoming dependent on one player.
In this game, New York’s scoring was distributed well enough to avoid that problem.
Jonquel Jones controlled the boards
Jonquel Jones finished with nine rebounds, the most for New York.
She also recorded two blocks.
Her rebounding total was one of the most important individual statistics in the game because New York’s overall advantage on the glass was so large.
Jones also contributed defensively with her two blocks.
When a team wins the rebounding battle by 17, individual frontcourt performances deserve special attention. Jones was central to that success.
She was not the game’s leading scorer, but her statistical profile shows why the Liberty could control possession and defensive rebounds.
Breanna Stewart added eight rebounds
Breanna Stewart recorded eight rebounds for New York.
Combined with Jones’s nine, the two players accounted for 17 rebounds.
That is almost 43 percent of New York’s 40 total rebounds.
Their combined work on the boards was a major factor in preventing Phoenix from generating additional opportunities.
This is a good example of why player evaluation should not be based solely on points.
A player can have a significant impact without leading the scoring column. In this matchup, rebounding was one of the most important areas separating the teams.
Kahleah Copper led Phoenix in scoring
Kahleah Copper finished as Phoenix’s leading scorer with 16 points.
Her total matched Astier’s 16 points and represented the highest scoring output for either team.
Copper’s scoring was important because Phoenix needed reliable offensive production in a game where the team struggled to shoot efficiently.
However, the Mercury’s overall field-goal percentage remained at 34 percent.
That made it difficult for Copper’s scoring to overcome the team’s broader shooting disadvantage.
Phoenix needed more efficient scoring around its leading scorer to turn a competitive game into a victory.
Alyssa Thomas delivered an all-around performance
Alyssa Thomas scored 15 points and led Phoenix with eight assists.
She was also the team’s second-leading scorer.
Her eight assists were particularly notable because Phoenix finished with 14 assists as a team.
That means Thomas accounted for more than half of the Mercury’s assists.
This indicates how heavily Phoenix relied on her playmaking.
Thomas’s 15 points and eight assists gave her one of the strongest overall statistical profiles on the Phoenix roster in this matchup.
Even though Phoenix lost, her contribution was significant.
Monique Akoa Makani added 13 points
Monique Akoa Makani scored 13 points for Phoenix, making her the team’s third-leading scorer.
Copper, Thomas, and Akoa Makani combined for 44 points.
That means the trio produced nearly two-thirds of Phoenix’s 68 points.
Their production gave Phoenix a clear scoring core, but the team’s overall shooting efficiency remained a problem.
The challenge was not simply generating points from its leading players. Phoenix needed more efficient production across the full lineup.
Natasha Mack was a defensive force
Natasha Mack led Phoenix with nine rebounds.
She also recorded five steals, which was the highest individual steals total in the game.
That is a particularly notable combination.
Mack’s nine rebounds helped Phoenix compete individually on the glass even though the team was outrebounded 40-23.
Her five steals were also responsible for a major part of Phoenix’s defensive activity.
Phoenix finished with 11 steals as a team.
Mack therefore accounted for nearly half of the Mercury’s steals.
This was one of the clearest examples of an individual defensive contribution in the matchup.
Phoenix created more turnovers
One of the most interesting parts of the box score is that Phoenix actually won the turnover battle.
The Mercury committed nine turnovers.
New York committed 16.
That gave Phoenix a seven-turnover advantage.
Phoenix also recorded 11 steals compared with five for New York.
Normally, forcing turnovers and protecting the ball are valuable ingredients for winning a basketball game.
However, the Mercury could not convert that advantage into enough overall offensive efficiency.
This is an important lesson from the matchup.
Turnover margin matters, but it does not automatically determine the winner.
If a team gives away fewer possessions but struggles significantly with shooting and rebounding, another team can still control the game.
That is exactly what happened here.
The free throw numbers favored Phoenix slightly
Phoenix shot 20 of 22 from the free-throw line.
That was a 91 percent conversion rate.
New York went 15 of 17, or 88 percent.
Phoenix therefore had the better free-throw percentage and made five more free throws.
Yet New York still won by seven.
This is another reason the game should be viewed through multiple statistical categories.
Phoenix was excellent at the foul line, but the Mercury did not shoot well enough from the field to take full advantage of those free points.
New York’s superior field-goal percentage and rebounding advantage outweighed Phoenix’s free-throw edge.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
The scoring pattern also reveals how the game developed.
First quarter
Phoenix scored 11 points in the opening period.
New York scored 17.
The Liberty therefore started with a six-point advantage.
A slow offensive start put Phoenix in a position where it had to chase the game.
Second quarter
Phoenix responded with 20 points in the second quarter.
New York scored 17.
That allowed the Mercury to cut into New York’s advantage.
The halftime scoring pattern suggests Phoenix improved its offensive output after a difficult opening period.
However, New York still maintained control of the overall game.
Third quarter
The third quarter became an important turning point.
Phoenix scored 23 points.
New York scored 25.
Both teams produced their highest-scoring quarter in the second half, but New York still gained two points.
That prevented Phoenix from making a decisive comeback.
Fourth quarter
Phoenix scored 14 points in the final quarter.
New York scored 16.
The Liberty therefore finished the game with a two-point edge in the fourth.
The quarter-by-quarter totals were:
| Quarter | Phoenix Mercury | New York Liberty |
| Q1 | 11 | 17 |
| Q2 | 20 | 17 |
| Q3 | 23 | 25 |
| Q4 | 14 | 16 |
| Final | 68 | 75 |
The pattern shows that Phoenix never produced a quarter in which it clearly separated from New York.
The Mercury improved after the first quarter, but New York continued to answer.
What the shooting numbers really tell us
The shooting statistics provide perhaps the clearest explanation for the outcome.
Phoenix made 21 of 62 field-goal attempts.
New York made 26 of 60.
That means New York made five more field goals despite taking two fewer attempts.
This is a major efficiency difference.
New York’s 43 percent shooting compared with Phoenix’s 34 percent indicates that the Liberty generated more successful shots from their possessions.
The three-point numbers show a similar pattern.
New York made eight of 25 attempts.
Phoenix made six of 24.
The difference from three-point range was modest, but it still favored New York.
The biggest shooting advantage came from overall field-goal efficiency.
The possession story
Possession-based analysis is especially useful in a game like this because the teams won different statistical battles.
Phoenix had:
- Nine turnovers
- Eleven steals
- Three offensive rebounds
- 23 total rebounds
New York had:
- 16 turnovers
- Five steals
- Seven offensive rebounds
- 40 total rebounds
Phoenix did a better job protecting the ball.
New York did a better job controlling the rebound battle.
The Liberty also converted their shooting opportunities at a much higher rate.
This suggests that New York’s offense did not necessarily rely on creating a huge number of extra possessions through turnovers. Instead, it benefited from making more of the shots it took and controlling missed shots through rebounding.
That is a more nuanced explanation of the victory than simply saying New York played better offense.
Why Phoenix’s 11 steals were not enough
Phoenix’s 11 steals were impressive.
New York recorded only five.
That six-steal difference shows that Phoenix’s defense was active and disruptive.
However, the Mercury did not fully capitalize on that defensive activity.
The problem was efficiency.
Steals can create fast-break opportunities and extra possessions, but those opportunities still need to become points.
Phoenix’s 34 percent field-goal shooting limited the value of those extra chances.
The Mercury also had only three offensive rebounds.
So while Phoenix created turnovers, it did not create many additional possessions through offensive rebounding.
That combination helps explain why the team’s defensive activity did not produce a win.
New York’s 16 turnovers remain a concern
The Liberty won, but their 16 turnovers should not be ignored.
Phoenix’s 11 steals indicate that the Mercury consistently found ways to pressure New York.
For New York, this is one of the clearest areas that could have produced a different result against a more efficient opponent.
The Liberty’s 43 percent shooting and 40 rebounds gave them enough margin to survive the turnover disadvantage.
But giving away seven more turnovers than Phoenix is still significant.
The strongest interpretation is that New York’s offensive efficiency and rebounding compensated for its ball-security problems.
That does not mean the turnovers were harmless.
Defensive comparison
The defensive statistics also favor New York in several important categories.
The Liberty recorded five blocks compared with Phoenix’s three.
New York also collected 33 defensive rebounds compared with Phoenix’s 20.
Those defensive rebounds helped end Phoenix possessions.
Phoenix’s 11 steals were its biggest defensive statistical advantage, but New York’s ability to finish possessions on the defensive glass was more consistent throughout the game.
New York also committed 21 personal fouls compared with Phoenix’s 20.
That was nearly identical, so fouling was not a major statistical separator.
Team leaders at a glance
New York Liberty
- Leading scorer: Pauline Astier, 16 points
- Second-leading scorer: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, 13 points
- Leading rebounder: Jonquel Jones, 9 rebounds
- Second-leading rebounder: Breanna Stewart, 8 rebounds
- Leading assister: Pauline Astier, 6 assists
- Steals leaders: Satou Sabally and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, 2 each
- Blocks leader: Jonquel Jones, 2 blocks
Phoenix Mercury
- Leading scorer: Kahleah Copper, 16 points
- Second-leading scorer: Alyssa Thomas, 15 points
- Third-leading scorer: Monique Akoa Makani, 13 points
- Leading rebounder: Natasha Mack, 9 rebounds
- Leading assister: Alyssa Thomas, 8 assists
- Steals leader: Natasha Mack, 5 steals
These individual numbers demonstrate that both teams had standout contributors.
The difference was how those individual performances combined into team-level efficiency.
New York’s 18 assists show balanced offense
The Liberty recorded 18 assists.
Phoenix had 14.
The four-assist advantage may look small, but it is meaningful when combined with New York’s superior shooting.
Good shooting and ball movement often reinforce one another.
When players create higher-quality opportunities for teammates, the team can improve its overall efficiency.
Astier’s six assists were particularly important because she was also New York’s leading scorer.
Her performance therefore combined individual scoring with distribution.
Phoenix depended heavily on its top playmaker
Thomas’s eight assists accounted for more than half of Phoenix’s 14 total assists.
That shows how important she was to the team’s offensive organization.
Thomas also scored 15 points.
Her combined scoring and playmaking gave Phoenix a strong central offensive presence.
However, when a team has a significant share of its playmaking concentrated through one player, the supporting cast must convert those created opportunities efficiently.
Phoenix’s 34 percent field-goal percentage suggests that this was not happening consistently enough.
Season series context
The provided matchup data states that New York won the season series 3-0.
The listed season-series results are:
- Game 1: New York 84, Phoenix 74
- Game 2: New York 75, Phoenix 68
- Game 3: New York 94, Phoenix 92
Across those listed results, New York consistently found ways to finish games ahead of Phoenix.
The 75-68 result was the lowest-scoring game among the three listed matchups.
That makes the defensive and rebounding statistics especially relevant.
The provided data also lists the attendance for this matchup at 17,579.
The venue was Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The listed broadcast information was ION and WNBA League Pass.
What this matchup says about both teams
The numbers provide several useful takeaways for evaluating each team.
New York Liberty strengths
New York’s strongest areas were:
- Field-goal efficiency
- Total rebounding
- Defensive rebounding
- Offensive rebounding
- Balanced scoring and playmaking
- Shot blocking
The Liberty’s 40 rebounds were the most obvious statistical advantage.
Their 43 percent field-goal shooting was the second major strength.
New York Liberty weaknesses
The biggest concern was turnovers.
The Liberty committed 16 turnovers, seven more than Phoenix.
That created opportunities for the Mercury and contributed to Phoenix’s 11 steals.
New York also made only eight of 25 three-point attempts.
While 32 percent was better than Phoenix’s 25 percent, it still left room for improvement.
Phoenix Mercury strengths
Phoenix’s strongest statistical areas were:
- Turnover control
- Steals
- Free-throw shooting
- Individual playmaking from Thomas
- Individual rebounding from Mack
The Mercury’s 91 percent free-throw shooting was excellent.
Their 11 steals were also a significant defensive accomplishment.
Phoenix Mercury weaknesses
The biggest issue was shooting efficiency.
A 34 percent field-goal percentage made it difficult to overcome New York’s efficiency and rebounding.
Phoenix also collected only 23 rebounds.
The 17-rebound deficit was too large to ignore.
The biggest statistical lesson from the matchup
The most important lesson from the new york liberty vs phoenix mercury match player stats is that basketball games are rarely explained by one category.
Phoenix won the turnover battle.
Phoenix had more steals.
Phoenix shot better from the free-throw line.
Yet New York won.
Why?
Because the Liberty were substantially better from the field and dominated the boards.
This is exactly why complete box-score analysis is more useful than focusing only on scoring leaders.
A player can score 16 points and still have a different impact depending on how efficiently those points are produced, how many possessions they support, and what happens in other statistical categories.
The same principle applies at the team level.
A practical way to read this box score
For fans and analysts, a useful approach is to examine the game in this order:
First, check the final score
New York won 75-68.
That tells you who won, but not why.
Second, compare shooting
New York shot 43 percent.
Phoenix shot 34 percent.
This immediately identifies a major efficiency gap.
Third, check rebounding
New York had 40 rebounds.
Phoenix had 23.
This reveals the largest team-level difference in the box score.
Fourth, examine turnovers
Phoenix had nine turnovers.
New York had 16.
This shows Phoenix had an advantage that could have helped it win.
Fifth, check individual contributions
Astier led New York with 16 points and six assists.
Copper led Phoenix with 16 points.
Thomas contributed 15 points and eight assists.
Mack had nine rebounds and five steals.
These figures explain which players were most influential within their teams.
Finally, compare the statistical advantages
Once all categories are considered, the result becomes easier to understand.
New York’s shooting and rebounding advantages outweighed Phoenix’s turnover and steals advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led the New York Liberty in scoring?
Pauline Astier led New York with 16 points. She also led the Liberty with six assists.
Who led the Phoenix Mercury in scoring?
Kahleah Copper was Phoenix’s leading scorer with 16 points. Alyssa Thomas followed with 15 points.
Who had the most rebounds in the game?
Jonquel Jones led New York with nine rebounds, while Natasha Mack led Phoenix with nine. The Liberty won the team rebounding battle 40-23.
Which team shot better?
New York shot 43 percent from the field, while Phoenix shot 34 percent. New York also made eight three-pointers compared with Phoenix’s six.
Which team had more turnovers?
New York committed 16 turnovers, compared with nine for Phoenix. Phoenix therefore won the turnover battle.
What was the final score?
The New York Liberty defeated the Phoenix Mercury 75-68 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, according to the provided match data.
Conclusion
The new york liberty vs phoenix mercury match player stats show a game in which New York’s efficiency and rebounding ultimately proved more important than Phoenix’s advantage in turnovers and steals.
New York shot 43 percent from the field compared with Phoenix’s 34 percent. The Liberty also dominated the boards 40-23 and collected 33 defensive rebounds compared with Phoenix’s 20. Those numbers gave New York greater control over possessions and helped offset its 16 turnovers.
Pauline Astier stood out for New York with 16 points and six assists, while Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart provided major rebounding contributions. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 13 points and two steals.
For Phoenix, Kahleah Copper led the scoring with 16 points, while Alyssa Thomas combined 15 points with eight assists. Natasha Mack was particularly active defensively, producing nine rebounds and five steals.
The game is a strong example of why complete player and team statistics provide more useful insight than the final score alone. Phoenix had several statistical advantages, especially in ball security, steals, and free-throw shooting. New York, however, was more efficient with its field-goal attempts and much stronger on the glass.
Taken together, those advantages explain how the Liberty finished with a seven-point victory despite losing the turnover battle.
