Liberty falls to Fire, marking their third consecutive defeat

Liberty’s Disappointing Loss to the Fire

There’s really no way to justify what unfolded in the fourth quarter during the 81-74 defeat against the Portland Fire.

It all went downhill quickly—Liberty committed four turnovers in the first two minutes of that final quarter. The lead, once a comfortable 10 points, dwindled down to just a single point on several occasions, but the Fire took control with 3:36 left and didn’t look back.

Who would have predicted that Sarah Ashley Barker would turn into such a nemesis for the Liberty? She scored all seven of her points in the fourth quarter, even managing to intercept a crucial pass from Brianna Stewart to seal the game.

Now, the Liberty is on a three-game losing streak, sitting at 3 wins and 4 losses for the season. This marks their worst start since Sandy Brondello’s inaugural season in 2022.

It’s worth noting that New York allowed 7 of their 19 turnovers in the fourth quarter, contributing to a dismal performance.

Throughout the season, Liberty has often seemed more like a makeshift team, rather than a true championship contender.

Monday’s game—just the second night of back-to-back games—was no exception. Sabrina Ionescu was ruled out an hour before the game to manage an injury to her left foot. Leonie Fievich was resting, and Bethnia Rainey-Hamilton missed the game for personal reasons. Sato Sabally started, but had to bow out after just four minutes due to illness.

Despite the challenges, Stewart really put in the effort, grabbing 25 points, 17 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block. It was clear she was trying to lift the team, but it still wasn’t enough.

Liberty once again faltered in the second half, though. Let’s be honest: the basketball displayed wasn’t all that pretty. It felt a bit disjointed and lacked finesse.

Still, there were some bright spots. Marin Johannes hit some dazzling three-pointers and delivered an impressive no-look pass to Jonquel Jones, who managed an and-1 layup.

But there were certainly stretches where the offense stalled, and Portland’s defensive pressure seemed to suffocate New York. At times, it felt like Liberty’s defense was on the verge of breaking down completely.

Jones did achieve his first double-double of the season, posting 12 points and 11 rebounds. However, it’s notable that Liberty’s remarkable 34-game regular season winning streak—where Jones had recorded a double-double—came to an end with this loss.