Liberty stars defend their fans after Mercury diss ‘quiet’ Barclays crowd

PHOENIX — Sabrina Ionescu said she had “no reaction” after hearing two Mercury players threw shade at Liberty fans following Phoenix’s Game 2 victory in Brooklyn. 

In her eyes, it’s a moot point to debate who has the best fans in the league. 

“I think everyone knows whose arena is louder,” Ionescu said Friday ahead of a winner-takes-all Game 3. “It was a blowout game, so I’m not sure what they would have been cheering for. Maybe Ellie, which is unfortunate for our fans but, I mean, it’s not really even up for debate so I wouldn’t even comment on it.” 

In some ways, Ionescu said she understood why the Barclays Center crowd was not nearly as rowdy as it typically is. 

“Obviously, we didn’t give our fans a lot to cheer for in a blowout game,” Ionescu said. 

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.” 

Satou Sabally then was asked about playing a win-or-go-home Game 3 in front of their home fans, known as the “X-factor.” 

Sabally, who rode on her sister Nyara’s float during the Liberty’s championship parade last October, said she expected PHX Arena to be “loud, louder than here.” 

Copper appeared to be almost taken aback by Sabally’s quip as the microphone in front of her picked up on her muttering “oop.” 

Sabally doubled down and said Mercury fans wouldn’t leave early like some did in Brooklyn, around the midway point of the fourth quarter. 

“They will stay to the end of the game,” Sabally said. “They’re backing us up. … It’s different.” 

Sabally also expected Friday’s atmosphere to be “lit” and said PHX Arena vibes are “unmatched.” 

Asked about the Mercury’s comments, Liberty star Breanna Stewart said she “can’t wait to hear it.” 

Stewart also defended Liberty fans. 

“Our fans support us through and through and we know we didn’t do a good job for them,” Stewart said. “We know that that game was tough for them to stay engaged in and on top of it, but they were still there and our New York fans aren’t going to flip on us that easily.” 

Jonquel Jones passed on the opportunity to respond directly to Copper and Sabally’s comments, saying she didn’t have anything to say because “I’m focused on the game right now.” 

But Jones slipped in a subtle foreshadowing at the end of her post-shootaround interview when talking about how playing in high-stakes moments, such as an elimination game, is what athletes live for. 

“This is the stuff that you dream about. The big shots. The big moments. The opportunity to still chase the championship,” Jones said. “It’s because we’re still in the playoffs and now we come into a hostile environment. And it’s our time now to make their fans quiet.” 

The Liberty said they don’t want Wednesday’s loss to be the parting image Liberty fans have from the 2025 season. 

Ionescu said the Liberty did a “disservice” to their fans with how they were bullied on their home court. She said the team accepted “ownership” for that shortcoming and acknowledged, “That’s not what they should have paid to come watch.” 

Ionescu has a personal connection with the fan base considering how she helped build it over the past five seasons. She was there for the move to Barclays Center and values fans’ support through thick and thin. 

“That wasn’t how we play, and I think we know that,” Ionescu said. “So we got to come out and take care of business tonight just to be able to give our fans another opportunity to really help us in what it is we’re trying to accomplish.” 

“We’re not the type of team that doesn’t care,” she added. “And on a personal level, I know I care. I care about the product that we put out on the floor for them to watch, like, put in a lot of work to be able to have that type of fan base and that type of support and hopefully we can be back there pretty soon.”