The New York Liberty defeated the Seattle Storm 92-86 on Wednesday, marking their sixth win in the last seven games. This victory followed a pattern similar to their previous encounter two days prior, with the Liberty establishing an early lead that the Storm managed to narrow throughout the game.
New York established a significant 21-6 advantage in the first quarter. However, the Storm fought back, cutting the deficit to four points by halftime. Seattle continued to close the gap in the third quarter, bringing the game within one possession. The Liberty responded with a 7-0 run to re-establish a 10-point lead, but the Storm remained within four points entering the final quarter.
Dominique Malonga led the Storm with 31 points, while rookie Flau’jae Johnson, who scored 25 points in the previous game, contributed 11 points in Wednesday's contest. The Liberty's performance was anchored by their star trio. Breanna Stewart paced New York with 28 points and eight rebounds. Jonquel Jones recorded her 12th double-double of the season, tallying 14 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. Sabrina Ionescu, after a slow first half where she missed all four of her attempts, found her rhythm in the second half, scoring 13 of her 15 points after halftime.
Liberty coach Chris DeMarco described the back-to-back games against the Storm as feeling like a "playoff series." He expressed enthusiasm for such two-game series, noting that they allow for strategic adjustments and a different scouting approach for the rematch.