The Phoenix Mercury played host to the New York Liberty on Friday night for the first round of the WNBA playoffs, with the right to play the Seattle Storm (or, for the Liberty, the Minnesota Lynx) in Round 2 on the line.

The favored Mercury took an early lead, but the young Liberty went on an extended run from late in the first quarter into the second to swipe a 41-37 advantage at halftime that had many — including Chicago Sky coach James Wade — stunned.