The New York Liberty, powered by their star trio of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones, secured a decisive 95-83 victory over the Seattle Storm on Monday at Barclays Center. The three players accounted for all of the Liberty's initial 26 points, setting the tone for a much-needed win.
Stewart led the charge with 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Ionescu contributed 18 points on efficient 7-for-10 shooting, alongside five assists. Jones added 20 points and seven rebounds. The team's bench also played a crucial role, igniting a 15-0 run late in the game.
This win marks a significant moment for the Liberty (18-13), who have faced scrutiny over inconsistency throughout the season. The victory, their first double-digit win since July 3, comes after a challenging 2-8 stretch and follows a relatively quiet trade deadline. Despite outside skepticism, the team's core players believe they possess the necessary talent to succeed.
"I'm not too privy on all of the trade situations, but obviously we know we have enough here," Stewart stated before the game. "We need to build that confidence with all the players that we have. It's kind of like one of those things where it's like, 'All right, this is it. Now let's move forward. There’s nothing else. Let's keep going.' It’s business as usual. This is it. This is our group."
The Liberty came out with intensity in their first home game in nearly two weeks, building a substantial lead behind the strong performance of their star players. However, the team's defense faltered at times, allowing the Storm, the league's last-place team, to narrow the gap. This pattern of playing down to lesser competition has been a recurring concern for the Liberty.
Seattle (6-26) had previously snapped an 11-game losing streak with a win over the Liberty in late June, a game in which Stewart did not play. The Storm extended their current losing streak to nine games with Monday's loss.
When the Liberty's intensity dipped in the third quarter, reserves like Han Xu, who contributed seven rebounds, and Marine Fauthoux, with five assists, stepped up. "Nothing’s changed," Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco said. "We love the players in our building and we have full confidence that we’re gonna be playing our best basketball when it matters."
The Liberty will host the Storm again on Wednesday, looking to build on their recent momentum, having won five of their last six games.