The Seattle Storm weren’t able to take advantage of the Liberty‘s sloppiness — or overcome their own — in New York’s 74-63 victory at Barclays Center Monday. The fourth win of the season keeps the Liberty undefeated to the start the season.
An awful second period in the Liberty win, in which both teams scored just nine points apiece, was filled with sloppy basketball and missed opportunities. After winning the opening period, 27-15, the Libs made just three field goal attempts in the second, but the Storm weren’t much better and converted four. The two teams combined to shoot 7-for-34 in those dreadful 10 minutes.
At a point, the championship-caliber team couldn’t even toss an entry pass to their superstar forwards. Sabrina Ionescu accounted for a turnover in the period, one coming right before halftime that was stolen by Seattle’s Mercedes Russell. But Russell turned the ball over right after. The back-and-forth empty possessions were the theme of the period.
But a slight return to form in the third carried the Libs to its fourth win of the season.
Ionescu, who led the way with 20 points and eight assists, scored nine points and accounted for 14 team points in the period. The Storm, who trailed by double-digits most of the night, cut the lead to 10 following a bucket by Russell. But Breanna Stewart, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, converted a 13-foot pull-up to stave off the Storm.
Ionescu then followed up to score five straight points, capped by a 28-foot three-pointer with 1:39 remaining in the third that forced Storm head coach Noelle Quinn to call timeout. The trey stretched the lead to 17 and put life back into the Barclays Center crowd.
The Storm got within nine in the fourth after an Ezi Magbegor jumper but that was the closest the team got in the period.
Balanced scoring from the Liberty’s starters — except for Courtney Vandersloot — continued Monday. Jonquel Jones logged 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton recorded 13 points, fours assists, three rebounds and two steals. Vandersloot had one shot attempt but dished four assists.
Laney-Hamilton was glued onto 2023 scoring champion Jewell Loyd for most of the night. Loyd missed 12 of her 17 attempts (0-for-4 from deep) while scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Skylar Diggins-Smith contributed eight points and seven assists. Magbegor finished with 12 points and five rebounds. The star trio combined to shoot 12-for-41 (29.2%) on the night.
The new-look Storm missed their new addition Nneka Ogwumike, who sat Monday’s game due to an ankle injury. The former MVP has only played in one regular-season game since joining the Storm after 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Storm will be back in action Wednesday against the Indiana Fever at home. The Liberty will continue their homestand against the Chicago Sky Thursday.
