Natasha Cloud tied a season high with 23 points, Breanna Stewart added 18 and the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty took a 76-69 overtime victory over the host Phoenix Mercury in the first game of their playoff series Sunday.

Cloud hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring in overtime and the Liberty scored the first eight points to take control and gain home-court advantage in the best-of-three series that continues Wednesday in New York.

Sabrina Ionescu had 18 points for the Liberty, who are 12-1 when their projected starting lineup plays this season.

Kahleah Copper had 15 points and Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Mercury, who could not overcome a 32.5 field goal percentage.

The Liberty, who won one of the four regular-season meetings, have now

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