Exactly one month ago, the New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury to improve to 17-6. Though they were 3 ½ games back of the Minnesota Lynx in the race for the No. 1 seed, comfortably in second, with a 2½-game lead on everyone else.

Sun guard Leïla Lacan intercepted Breanna Stewart’s pass intended for Sabrina Ionescu with only six seconds left in Monday night’s game and the Liberty up by only two. But as Lacan took off for the other end, Ionescu chased her down and cleanly swatted the ball away to prevent a potential game-tying layup.