Liberty Outlast Storm: Stewart Shines as Seattle Falters Late

The Liberty’s Balanced Attack

The most impressive aspect of this Liberty team emerged through their balanced scoring distribution. The game began with Natasha Cloud leading the defense while distributing six assists, and Jonquel Jones provided 13 points and four rebounds from the bench. Emma Meesseman brought additional passing and spacing to the team.

The team achieved a 49% field goal percentage and made 91% of their free throws throughout the game. The team maintained its focus on efficiency during crucial moments of playoff-style basketball, which resulted in a successful performance.

Seattle’s Missed Opportunities

The loss will be painful for Seattle because they demonstrated superior play during multiple segments of the game. The team displayed its offensive capabilities during the 31-point second quarter. The ball circulation improved while Skylar Diggins maintained fast-paced play and Nneka Ogwumike took control of the paint. The team maintained a six-point lead at halftime while the crowd maintained high energy levels.

The entire second half became a different game after the break. The Storm managed to score only 29 points throughout the second half, while their 13-point third quarter became their lowest-scoring period of the game. The team made only four three-pointers out of twenty attempts (20%) which limited their ability to create space on the court thus allowing New York to defend Ogwumike inside.

Standout Performances

Nneka Ogwumike: 20 points, 9 rebounds. The team relies on her as their core player because she fights in the paint while delivering consistent performance.

Skylar Diggins: The player scored 14 points while distributing 7 assists and making 3 steals. The team received proper orchestration from her but needed additional outside shooting support.

Erica Wheeler scored 12 points from the bench while making two three-pointers that helped Seattle stay close to the competition.

The problem? The team received their only significant contributions from Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler and Skylar Diggins, but lacked sufficient scoring distribution from other players.

The Fourth-Quarter Difference

The decisive moments of this contest took place during the last ten minutes of play. The Liberty outscored Seattle 25–16 during the final quarter of the game. Stewart used free throws to score while Cloud managed the game tempo, and Fiebich maintained distance from defenders.

The team displayed a sense of urgency during their final minutes of play. The team produced nine total turnovers while taking difficult shots during the game's crucial moments. The team with championship experience demonstrates clear distinctions from those who aim to reach that level.

Big Picture Takeaway

The road victory against Seattle (25–17) strengthened New York's postseason readiness. The team's stars performed well while their supporting players made important contributions, and the team maintained composure throughout the challenging away game.

The Seattle team (22–21) demonstrated the difference between being a playoff team and being a championship contender through this defeat. The team possesses top-level talent through its core players, including Ogwumike, Diggins, Magbegor, and Sykes, but it lacks the necessary consistency to succeed against top competition. A single outstanding quarter will not be enough to defeat the league leaders.

Analyst’s Lens

The playoff picture becomes clearer because New York demonstrated their dangerous potential in this game. The team benefits from Stewart's clutch shooting and Cloud's consistent playmaking while Fiebich provides three-point shooting ability to extend defenses.

Seattle? The team needs to develop additional scoring sources that extend beyond Ogwumike and Diggins to succeed. The team faces limited flexibility because their offense becomes repetitive when their three-point shots fail to connect. The team needs to rely on defense and discover new scoring sources to succeed in the postseason.