Two games on the Wednesday Commissioner's Cup slate, and both delivered performances worth remembering. In New York, the Liberty got a wire-to-wire win over Toronto behind a historically efficient night from Jonquel Jones and a balanced offensive attack that generated 24 assists on 33 made field goals. Out in Seattle, Phoenix picked up their first Cup win in what may be the most encouraging game the Mercury have played all season, built entirely on Natasha Mack's perfect shooting performance and a physical fourth quarter that sealed the deal. Here's how it all went down.

Toronto Tempo 82, New York Liberty 97

Toronto led 20-17 after one quarter and looked capable of making this a game. New York had other ideas. The Liberty outscored the Tempo 23-14 in the second, 30-24 in the third, and 27-24 in the fourth. The game was never seriously in doubt once the second quarter was over. Final: New York 97, Toronto 82, and the Liberty are 1-0 in Commissioner's Cup play.

Jonquel Jones was the story from start to finish, delivering one of the most complete individual performances of the Commissioner's Cup so far. She went 9-of-14 from the field (4-of-7 from three) for 22 points with 17 rebounds, two blocks, and a 78.6 percent true shooting mark. The 17 rebounds included five on the offensive glass, which generated four second-chance points as Toronto's defense was already scrambling to account for her perimeter threat. Her efficiency score of 35 was the highest of the game. New York's offense was balanced and surgical around her: 24 assists on 33 made field goals, a 43.8 percent three-point clip (14-of-32), and 85 percent from the free throw line (17-of-20). Marine Johannes shot 6-of-10 from the field (3-of-6 from three) for 15 points at 75 percent true shooting with two assists. Leonie Fiebich chipped in 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting at 79.9 percent true shooting, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the line with a 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Breanna Stewart contributed 19 points drawing seven fouls and going a perfect 8-of-8 from the line, though her 33.3 percent field goal shooting (5-of-15) kept her efficiency score from matching the night's top performers.

Toronto had enough individual performances to stay on the board but nothing capable of changing the game's direction. Brittney Sykes drove relentlessly, going 8-of-18 from the field for 17 points with 14 points in the paint and six fast-break points on three of four transition conversions. Marina Mabrey was efficient in stretches, going 7-of-13 (2-of-6 from three) for 17 points at 61.2 percent true shooting with four assists and a 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Nyara Sabally had 11 points and six rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting, but her minus-24 was the worst individual plus/minus of the game and reflected how thoroughly New York controlled the game when she was on the floor. Laura Juskaite fouled out with five personals and a minus-21. Toronto's 7.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (17 assists, 7 turnovers) was excellent, and their 77.8 percent second-chance conversion rate (7-of-9) generated 17 second-chance points. None of it was enough against a Liberty team that executed at a different level throughout.

NYL 97 · TOR 82

Phoenix Mercury 72, Seattle Storm 68

Phoenix led 21-15 after one quarter on the strength of an 11-0 opening run and looked in control. Seattle fought back to take a 53-52 lead after three quarters with a 22-16 third frame, and the Storm had the momentum heading into the final 10 minutes. Then the fourth quarter happened. Phoenix outscored Seattle 20-13 in the fourth to close it out. Final: Mercury 72, Storm 68, and Phoenix picks up their first Commissioner's Cup win of 2026 in a game that will be remembered for what Natasha Mack did from start to finish.

Mack was simply perfect. She went 7-of-7 from the field, two perfect free throws, for 16 points with 10 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and six second-chance points on 100 percent conversion. Her true shooting percentage, technically, calculates to over 100 percent given the 7-of-7 mark, making her the most efficient offensive player in either game Wednesday night. Her double-double included four offensive rebounds, and her defensive rating of 77.0 was the best among any player who logged meaningful minutes in Seattle. Kahleah Copper led Phoenix in scoring despite a rough shooting night (4-of-14 from the field), reaching 16 points through six perfect free throw makes and five fast-break points on two transition conversions at 66.7 percent. Alyssa Thomas went 4-of-9 for nine points with nine rebounds and five assists, though four turnovers were costly against a Seattle team that converted 14 points off the Tempo's mistakes. Monique Akoa Makani gave Phoenix 12 points off the bench on 3-of-8 shooting with five assists and two steals. Phoenix's 17 fast-break points on 70 percent conversion (7-of-10) was the defining offensive category, and their 10 offensive rebounds to Seattle's four reflected a physical advantage in the paint that grew as the game progressed.

Seattle played hard enough to win this game and will feel it slipped away. Awa Fam was the Storm's best performer, going 9-of-17 from the field for 18 points with six rebounds, two blocks, and 100 percent fast-break conversion on two attempts. Natisha Hiedeman led all players in minutes and went 6-of-17 from the field for 15 points with four assists and two steals. Flau'jae Johnson went 3-of-11 from the field with five assists but four turnovers and a 37.9 percent true shooting mark. Seattle's 27.3 percent three-point shooting (9-of-33) and 60 percent free throw rate (3-of-5) left too many points on the table in a four-point game. The Storm led after three quarters and outrebounded Phoenix on the defensive glass 30-34, but Phoenix's interior physicality and transition production ultimately proved decisive.

PHO 72 · SEA 68

Day 3 of the Commissioner's Cup produced two games that reinforced emerging narratives. New York continues to look like the favorite in the Eastern Conference Cup race, and Jones's 22-17 performance alongside a 24-assist team effort is the kind of output that separates contenders from pretenders. Toronto is 0-1 in Cup play and will need to find more from their starting five if they want to be a factor in the East. In the West, Phoenix's first Cup win is a significant development. The Mercury came into the season under scrutiny after a roster overhaul, and Wednesday's road performance in Seattle built around Mack's perfect shooting night and 17 fast-break points shows a team that is starting to develop an identity. Seattle drops to 0-1 in Cup play and will need to shore up both their three-point shooting and free throw production to compete in a tight Western Conference race.

Star of the Night: Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

22 points | 9-of-14 FG | 4-of-7 from three | 17 rebounds | 2 blocks | 78.6% true shooting

A 22-point, 17-rebound performance on 64.3 percent shooting from a player who also made four threes is the kind of all-around line that wins games on its own. Jones was the best player on the floor in the highest-scoring game of the night, and the five offensive rebounds that fed 15 New York second-chance points made her impact felt on both ends of every possession.

Dud of the Night: Nyara Sabally, Toronto Tempo

11 points | 5-of-10 FG | 1 turnover | minus-24

Sabally's individual numbers look acceptable on the surface, but the minus-24 tells the real story. New York outscored Toronto by 24 points when she was on the floor, and her inability to provide the defensive resistance the Tempo needed against Jones and the Liberty's perimeter attack made her a liability in a game that required Toronto's best from every starter. The Tempo needed more, and Sabally could not provide it.