Monique Akoa Makani scores 21 points and Mercury hand Liberty their 1st home loss, 89-81
NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Monique Akoa Makani scored a season-high 21 points, Alyssa Thomas added 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the New York Liberty 89-81 on Thursday night for their fourth straight win.
Sami Whitcomb scored eight of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, Satou Sabally had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Kitija Laksa added 13 points for Phoenix (10-4).
Advertisement
Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 35 points for the defending champion Liberty (10-2), who lost at home for the first time this season. Sabrina Ionescu added 16 points on 3-of-16 shooting, including 1 of 10 from 3-point range.
Whitcomb's 3-pointer capped a 16-6 run that gave Phoenix an 84-74 lead with 3:10 to play. She went 4 of 9 from 3-point range and Laksa hit 3 of 6. The rest of the Mercury went 0 for 16 from behind the arc.
New York's Jonquel Jones left early in the second quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return. The Mercury's Lexi Held departed midway through the third quarter after a collision with Stewart while diving for a loose ball near midcourt.
Kahleah Copper (injury management) did not play for the Mercury, who beat Connecticut 83-75 on Wednesday. The 2021 WNBA Finals MVP with Chicago, Copper had surgery on her right knee in May and made her season debut against Las Vegas on Sunday.
Up next
The Liberty kick off a four-game trip Sunday at Seattle. Phoenix plays the last four consecutive away games Saturday at Chicago.
___
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Analyst Thinks T.J. Watt Contract Issues Aren't Financial for Steelers
Analyst Thinks T.J. Watt Contract Issues Aren't Financial for Steelers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt has made news this offseason, but for the wrong reason. Advertisement Watt will enter the final season of his four-year, $112.011 million deal in 2025, and extension talks have reportedly not gone well when they've happened at all. Since joining the league in 2017, he's averaging 15.2 sacks per season, 65 tackles with 32 tackles for loss and 32 QB hits. Again, those are all averages. Per season. And he's due a huge payday because of those numbers. But Watt will turn 31 in mid-October, and it's possible Pittsburgh is leery of paying someone that age $40-plus million per season, which is what someone with Watt's numbers demands. Or is there another issue? Bleacher Report's James Palmer thinks there might be a performance issue at play here for the team. Advertisement "The issue with this is a big swing with Aaron Rodgers. They know how important the defense is gonna be, they know they need T.J. Watt, and a deal is likely going to get done," Palmer said. "But the Steelers' argument is this: that Watt and the defense kind of fell off a little bit the back end of last year." The Steelers suffered a defensive breakdown last season toward the end of the year, as the team lost its final five games, including a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round. Watt failed to register a sack in the season's final three games and finished the year with 11.5. That's the lowest total of his career when he's played at least 16 games. "He's had some injuries," Palmer stated. "He's battled through them. He's going to be 31 years old. Do you give $100 million guaranteed to somebody like that? I think that's where this battle's going to happen, but I think a deal is going to end up happening." Advertisement Related: Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Sends Honest TJ Watt Message to Steelers Related: Steelers Reportedly Extend Safety DeShon Elliott This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Insider Reveals Key to Potential T.J. Watt Extension
Insider Reveals Key to Potential T.J. Watt Extension originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It is hard to imagine the Pittsburgh Steelers without edge rusher T.J. Watt. He's entrenched himself in this city, woven into its DNA as a stalwart along the edge. He'll go into the Ring of Honor in short order and the Hall of Fame as a Steeler. Advertisement But every unforeseen move is unimaginable until it happens, and until Watt signs the extension he's looking for, it remains possible that he will play somewhere other than Pittsburgh. The Steelers waited too long to give Watt his new deal, and in the meantime, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett reset the market with a $160 million deal. Of that gargantuan mark, $123.6 million is guaranteed. Subsequently, it's no surprise that insider James Palmer revealed the key to the Steelers extending Watt is a matter of guaranteed money. "He's had some injuries," Palmer said for Bleacher Report. "He's battled through them. He's going to be 31 years old. Do you give $100 million guaranteed to somebody like that? I think that's where this battle's going to happen, but I think a deal is going to end up happening." Advertisement The optimism is welcome wording for a fanbase paranoid about losing its star. However, Pittsburgh's hesitancy is understandable. Watt is on the wrong side of 30 and didn't produce like an elite edge rusher in 2024. That isn't necessarily a sign of some steep decline, and Watt's run defense should keep him viable deep into his next contract. But when that contract is bound to approach (if not surpass) $40 million annually, with significant guaranteed money, there's a real chance the contract becomes a bad one rather quickly. "The issue with this is a big swing with Aaron Rodgers,' Palmer said. 'They know how important the defense is gonna be, they know they need T.J. Watt, and a deal is likely going to get done. But the Steelers' argument is this: That Watt and the defense kind of fell off a little bit the back end of last year." If Watt's decline has already arrived, the Steelers – who are still favored to extend him – are in trouble. They'll bank on his pedigree and track record of production when they eventually take that leap of faith. Finding the courage to bite that bullet, for the sake of keeping an icon around, is taking longer than anticipated. Even so, fans should remain confident in a deal getting done. Advertisement Related: AFC North Rival Sets Bar for Watt Extension Related: Steelers Legend Chimes in on T.J. Watt's Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chiefs Rookie Cornerback Already Improving in Minicamp
Chiefs Rookie Cornerback Already Improving in Minicamp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs were in the bottom half of the league in passing yards allowed this past season, so they went into the 2025 NFL Draft looking to improve their secondary. Advertisement And that is exactly what they did. The reigning AFC champions selected Cal cornerback Nohl Williams with the 85th overall pick in the third round of the draft. He was reportedly having some struggles in OTAs, but has shown flashes in mandatory minicamp. In team drills, Williams showed his athleticism by jumping up and making an impressive interception, which should give him some confidence after OTAs. In his final season at Cal, Williams led all of college football in interceptions with seven, one of which he was able to take all the way back to the house. He also racked up nine pass deflections and 52 total tackles, both of which were able to help him be named All-American. Advertisement Behind Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs did not have a lot of cornerback depth, so drafting a ball-hawk like Williams could be exactly what the team needed. His ability to snag interceptions and defend passes will complement McDuffie's ability to tackle at the corner spot very well. Williams is not currently listed as a starter on the team's depth chart, but could earn a lot of opportunities in his first season. The Chiefs fell short in the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles this past season, so Williams and the rest of the team's defense will be looking to help lead the team back to the playoffs to redeem themselves. Related: Chiefs Not Shutting Door On Rookie Starting Week 1 Related: Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Reveals Concern Level Over Travis Kelce In 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
