Breanna Stewart battled on one healthy leg. Homegrown star Sabrina Ionescu tried to create a spark to guarantee at least one more Barclays Center playoff game.

But their efforts weren’t enough. After blowing Game 1, the Mercury won Game 2 before eliminating the Liberty with a 79-73 win in the decisive Game 3 on Friday night.

The Liberty failed to become just the fourth WNBA franchise to win back-to-back titles. There will be a new WNBA champion crowned in October as the Liberty head into a winter offseason filled with uncertainties if there will even be a season in 2026 (possible lockout).

Down the stretch, Stewart, who again played on a sprained left MCL, attempted a 2023 MVP-type performance to will her team to victory with most of her teammates ineffective in a do-or-die matchup.

Every Liberty point in the fourth quarter was scored by Stewart.

She scored 14 of her 30 points in the fourth, utilizing her elite length on the other end to spark opportunities on offense.

The late takeover featured turnarounds, and-1s, pullup jumpers — you name it.

But it wasn’t enough as Alyssa Thomas’ triple-double — 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists — and Satou Sabally’s team-high 23 points and 12 rebounds were enough to outlast the defending champions.

The Liberty, though, had a chance to tie the game down three with 56.3 seconds remaining in regulation.

Natasha Cloud tossed an inbounds pass to Stewart cutting to the rim, but Thomas — Phoenix’s do-it-all MVP candidate — swatted the pass off the backboard and into Natasha Mack’s hands.

Kahleah Copper then scored to put her team up five with 32.8 seconds remaining in regulation. It was the dagger that put the game out of reach. And it set up a second-round series between No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx and No. 4 seed Mercury.

The Mercury fought for all four quarters while the Liberty started sluggish.

To start, it appeared one team was aware Friday’s Game 3 was an elimination game while the other performed like it was a preseason exhibition.

Phoenix again dominated in transition and won the first-quarter free-throw battle, 10-2. It contributed to a 12-4 to end the first as the Liberty trailed by seven.

The first-half rebound disparity was obvious: 7-0 in favor of the Mercury on the offensive glass. They looked to take charge in the second like they did in their dominant Game 2 win in Brooklyn.

But Ionescu (22 points, six rebounds, four assists) charged her team back with 12 second-quarter points to help her team enter halftime trailing 45-41. She entered halftime with 14 points while Stewart contributed 14 of her own (eight in the second).

Following halftime, Ionescu continued in the third with a 23-foot 3-pointer and layup that gave the Liberty their first lead since the first quarter. It didn’t last long due to Sabally’s free throws that put the Mercury back in front, 47-46, at the 8:45 mark. The period ensued with buckets from both sides and no one putting together a damaging run going into the fourth.

After three quarters, the Liberty trailed, 60-59.

From there, it was all up to Stewart and Ionescu.

Emma Meesseman, the Liberty’s key midseason pickup, was ineffective (zero points on three shots) in Game 3 like she’s been for most of the first-round series.

Jonquel Jones got called for a technical foul in Game 3 while seeming frustrated throughout the series. She finished with three points on 1-of-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Aside from Stewart’s and Ionescu’s combined 52 points, the rest of the Liberty team scored just 21 points on 32 shots.

With most of her team ineffective, Stewart dominated her matchup against DeWanna Bonner. She vowed to turn in a better performance than Wednesday’s poor Game 2 — and she did.

Ionescu also made good on her promise.

But there was no one else to look to for a season-saving performance. The Liberty are no longer champions.

The loss will sting.

And it’ll sting for much longer if there’s no 2026 WNBA season due to a lockout.

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