Late comeback effort not enough; Storm fall to Liberty 81-66
By Bel Garcia, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Storm welcomed Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty back to Climate Pledge Arena for the second time this season. The last time the two teams played against each other was to close off the month of May. Following a close game that slipped away from the Storm, the two teams will play a couple more times this season over on the East Coast. Today, Seattle had to climb out of a 20-point deficit. The Storm sparked a comeback effort, but it was not enough as the Liberty went on to win, 81-66.
Pre-game sights and scenes ahead of the Seattle Storm loss to the New York Liberty (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Seattle rookie forward Jordan Horston checked into the game late into the first quarter, being listed as probable on the injury list yesterday. Horston was made available today after missing several games with a lingering shoulder injury. It was a slow start for the Storm, with their shooting percentages at half of what the Liberty were sinking. Seattle ended the quarter with 14 points, matching Stewarts first quarter total. A positive early in the game was the Storm winning the second chance points matchup, something that they have acknowledged several times that the rebounding needs to improve but weren’t far off in rebounds.
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart was able to get into her game early and often (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Liberty forward Breanna Stewart found her sweet spots on the court quickly, scoring the first two baskets of the game for either team. Stewart was 6-8 from the field and perfect from beyond the arc, making both attempts she took. The Liberty had an effective offensive quarter, shooting 61% from the field and 66% from the three. New York also outscored Seattle in fast break points with nine, as the Storm did not get any chances in the fast break.
The Liberty began to pull away in the second quarter, outscoring the Storm by another 14 points, a bigger deficit than that of the first quarter. Just before the half, Seattle was also assessed a technical foul for an excessive timeout. They had taken all four of their timeouts and still called for another, it was granted, but under penalty of a Stewart free throw.
Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd had another solid performance, but it ultimately wasn’t enough (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Storm guard Jewell Loyd ended the half shooting only 3-11, a quiet first half for the Storm’s All-Star starter, but she did start the half better with the first two shots for Seattle. The Storm needed her to contribute a lot more in the half, as the Liberty officially had a 20-point lead, the largest of the game. Loyd scored more points in the third quarter than she did in the first half, including sinking a three as she was getting fouled by New York’s Kayla Thornton and completing the four-point play. Followed by a Sami Whitcomb three, the Storm started chipping away at New York’s lead. The sequence of threes totaled the number of threes that Seattle converted in the first half, as they were running plays and getting players open.
Seattle Storm forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu continues to play strong minutes (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)
Storm rookie forward Dulcy Fankam-Mendjiadeu continues to bring a presence to the paint, as she played good minutes in the second half to help hold Liberty center Jonquel Jones to a quiet night. Jones’ efforts were held back by being in foul trouble, having received her fifth on a Mendjiadeu shot attempt early in the fourth. Jewell Loyd continued to propel her team back from a deficit, displaying her 3-PT range and cutting the Liberty lead to eleven, at 66-55. Loyd has made six or more 3-PT FGs in a game three times this season, tied with none other than today’s opponent Sabrina Ionescu. The Liberty had a response to every shot the Storm took to keep the lead at or close to eleven points. Until New York finally began to break away once again at the two-minute mark. Sabrina Ionescu came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points to add to her previous five through the first three quarters.
For the Storm, this was the last home game before they head on the road for their next four, without a return until after the All-Star Game, in which, two of our Seattle Storm will be participating. Jewell Loyd was named a starter and most recently Ezi Magbegor was named to the reserve list.