The Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty square off in game three of the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

After delivering a 26-point beating of the Liberty on Wednesday night, Mercury guard Kahleah Copper said she was “shocked” by how hushed the Barclays Center crowd appeared to be. “I don’t think it was loud to start,” Copper said. “I was shocked. I was expecting us to have to deal with some crowd, some court-side people. Like, it was quiet.”

The New York Liberty could not come close to producing enough offense in a critical third-quarter stretch on Wednesday because the Phoenix Mercury turned up the defensive intensity in an 86-60 Game 2 road victory.

Breanna Stewart had said Wednesday morning that avoiding a trip to Phoenix for Game 3 was a “main priority” for the New York Liberty. But that’s where they will head to try to stave off a disastrous first-round playoff exit that would dash their championship repeat hopes.

After much speculation about her condition, Breanna Stewart was on the court Wednesday night for the Liberty’s lopsided 86-60 loss to the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 of their first round series

The Minnesota Lynx rallied to beat the Golden State Valkyries and advance in the WNBA playoffs thanks to a go-head basket from Napheesa Collier on Wednesday night.