New York Liberty vs Phoenix Mercury betting preview as both teams struggle despite talent

The New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury meet in a WNBA regular-season matchup that has become notable for both teams underperforming expectations despite strong individual talent. The Liberty entered the season as championship favourites but sit at a modest 16-13, while the Mercury, last season's finalists, have endured a rocky campaign after a poor start, raising questions about why two rosters with proven talent are struggling to find consistent form.

Injuries have disrupted New York's season, with Sabrina Ionescu playing just 17 games and Satou Sabally only 13, forcing the Liberty to rotate 11 players through significant minutes. Phoenix opened the year 2-8 before slipping to 4-12 and has suffered three separate four-game losing streaks, despite Kahleah Copper averaging 20.7 points per game; the team lacks secondary scoring, with only three players averaging double figures. Both sides also have leaky defences, conceding a combined 174.2 points per game between them (87.6 for the Liberty and 86.6 for the Mercury), a factor cited in a betting recommendation to back the "under" for the contest.