PHOENIX — The Liberty’s five starters huddled together Sunday night before heading back onto the floor for overtime.

Natasha Cloud looked each of her teammates in the eyes as they prepared to go back out to war together.

“The more aggressive team is going to win this,” Cloud told them.

They all knew what they needed to do.

“[It was] winning time,” Jonquel Jones said.

After four quarters of a slugfest, the Liberty’s championship DNA and playoff experience took over.

Natasha Cloud celebrates during the Liberty-Mercury game on Sept. 14, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images

It started with Cloud cashing in on a 3. Then, Sabrina Ionescu fed Breanna Stewart for a layup that she made through contact.

And the Liberty’s attack didn’t stop there.

Leonie Fiebich caught fire at the right time and drained the dagger 3 to help the Liberty outlast the Mercury 76-69 in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.

But there wasn’t much celebration or smiling during the Liberty’s postgame news conference as a potential injury to Stewart loomed over the team.

Stewart’s left knee appeared to buckle as she took off for her layup in overtime before she collapsed to the ground and grimaced in pain.

Breanna Stewart looks on during the Liberty-Mercury game on Sept. 14, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images

Stewart stayed in the game for the free throw, but checked out shortly after that and watched the rest of the game from the bench, where a camera caught her appearing teary-eyed.

Stewart, who had 18 points, six rebounds and four assists, initially was scheduled to talk on the podium after the game but was replaced by Jones.

Coach Sandy Brondello didn’t have an update on Stewart but said she’ll be evaluated “soon.”

“We’re always concerned,” Cloud said. “This is a close locker room inside. We care about Stewie more than just the basketball player. She did her job today. She got us to a dub. But we’re concerned about her. We don’t know anything yet, but we have the next-man-up mentality.”

Cloud played a pivotal role in Sunday’s victory. She scored a game-high 23 points against her former team and had six rebounds, five assists and three rebounds.

Sunday’s win wasn’t pretty by any means. It was gritty and, at times, sloppy and stagnant.

The Liberty outrebounded the Mercury 48-31 but attempted five fewer field goals.

Turnovers again were a problem as the Liberty committed a whopping 21 giveaways.

Satou Sabally #0 of the Phoenix Mercury attempts to block a pass made by Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty during the fourth quarter at PHX Arena on September 14, 2025 in Phoenix. Getty Images

Ultimately, though, the Liberty’s late-game composure in the high-stakes moments carried them to a win.

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts acknowledged that postseason experience definitely can play a factor in close games.

“[Experience is] the one thing that our group can’t make up for collectively,” Tibbetts said. “We haven’t been through it together in the playoffs like they have.”

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The Liberty defense helped them take Game 1. They held the Mercury to 26 points in the second half and overtime.

Alyssa Thomas had 15 points on 18 shots and Satou Sabally finished with nine on 17.

“It was a very physical game,” Brondello said. “It was really hard to get from A to B, but in the end, I think just our resilience paid off and our experience.”

The Liberty said they were saving their best basketball for last.

Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty fouls Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter at PHX Arena on September 14, 2025. Getty Images

They said they were building and, now healthy, could maximize this group’s potential.

But there was a moment in Game 1 of the first-round series between the defending champions and the Mercury that the Liberty looked like a team on the brink of collapse.

The Liberty squandered a seven-point lead in the third, scoring just two points over the final 5:04 of that quarter.

The game went into overtime after each team missed opportunities down the stretch to take a lead.

But Cloud also believes the Liberty’s overtime success was the reward for dealing with the “bulls–t” they faced throughout the season when execution problems hurt them.

“I’ve been saying and harping on, like, those moments are going to prepare us for this moment here, and when this time comes, we’re going to f–king execute,” Cloud said. “And this moment came and we f–king executed.”

And they survived.

Thanks to the WNBA’s new playoff format, the Liberty are set to host the Mercury in Game 2 on Wednesday in Brooklyn.