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Takeaways: New York Liberty fall to Phoenix Mercury

By Howard Megdal

WHITE PLAINS, NY - JUNE 26: Leilani Mitchell #5 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 26, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WHITE PLAINS, NY - JUNE 26: Leilani Mitchell #5 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 26, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Another win for the surging Mercury, more questions for the Liberty.

WHITE PLAINS, NY – JUNE 26: Leilani Mitchell #5 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 26, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WHITE PLAINS, NY – JUNE 26: Leilani Mitchell #5 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 26, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Tuesday night in Westchester, the New York Liberty struggled to solve many of the problems that have plagued them over their 4-8 start.

More from New York Liberty

The result, an 83-69 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, leaves more concern than ever that the Liberty are digging a hole that will be difficult to climb out of, given the level of play on display by the eight teams currently slotted to make the WNBA playoffs.

Here’s what we learned:

Diana Taurasi is classic

She turned 36 on June 11, but somehow Diana Taurasi just doesn’t slow down. She entered Tuesday night’s game with a player efficiency rating of 23.3, which would be her best full-season mark since 2013, and a true shooting percentage of .624, which would be her best mark… ever. And she did little to hurt either number on Tuesday, putting up 11 points in the first quarter on 4-for-4 shooting, including three from deep. By halftime she was up to 17, moving without the ball and taking full advantage of the expert playmaking of Briann January.

Taurasi has scored in double figures every game so far this season save one, when she scored just nine. But it is the full Taurasi experience this season. She’s at 28.3 in assist percentage, best mark since 2014 for Taurasi. You might remember who won the WNBA title in 2014, too: the Phoenix Mercury.

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