The Phoenix Mercury edged closer to the number 8 spot in the playoff seeding, currently in the 9th position after a gritty-type win on Thursday night at Footprint Center.

Diana Taurasi and Sophie Cunningham each scored 23 points and got off to a blistering start leading by as many as 15 points.

But as they always do, allowed the position to get back in the game and only lead at the half by 8, and eventually in the third New York cut the league to as low as 1 point.

Skylar Diggins-Smith hit four free throws in the final 22.6 seconds for Phoenix to ice the game, and played a good game of keep-away running precious time off the game clock. Diggins-Smith finished with 13 points and nine assists, and Shey Peddy had 13 points and four steals.

The Mercury never trailed in this contest, and the new small-ball line-up seems to be starting to work in their favor. To add just a little more motivation to get a win and put on a show, Phoenix Suns Forward Torrey Craig was in attendance.

Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 22 points and 10 rebounds, including a very big three-point shot to close to within 1 point with seconds to play.

Another gritty win, but this is the Mercury of 2022 they will fight until the end.

Now only one spot out of the 8th seed spot going into the All-Star break should make for a very motivated team going after that playoff birth in the second half of the season.