Content Liberty faces defeat to the rebuilding Storm

Liberty Stumbles Against Storm After Vegas Victory

SEATTLE — Just two days after a big win against the defending champion Ace in Las Vegas, the Liberty experienced a disappointing outing in Seattle.

They were missing two starting pitchers; Sato Sabally was treated for a concussion, and Brianna Stewart was resting. Still, the Liberty were expected to handle a rebuilding Storm team.

However, Seattle took the lead early and maintained control throughout, securing a 99-88 victory.

The Liberty managed to close the gap to four points at one stage in the second half, but that was about it.

With three losses in four games, this should be a wake-up call for the Liberty. How does a strong team like the Liberty dominate against the Aces but falter against lower-ranked teams like the Fire, Mystics, Sparks, and now the Storm?

It seems, simply put, that the Liberty have a recurring issue when facing opponents they’re expected to beat.

Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 26 points and eight rebounds. She remarked, “No matter who you play, you have to come with a certain level of intensity.” She added that attention to the scouting reports and coaching was crucial for success. “I don’t think we had that tonight, so we need to reflect individually on how to improve our defense first.”

Thursday’s game was marked by mistakes from both teams. An early miscommunication led to an easy layup for the Storm, while turnovers and poor shot choices hindered Seattle in transition. A lack of boxing out also allowed the Storm to capitalize on rebounds.

The Liberty were caught off guard right from the beginning, as the Storm surged to a 23-15 lead within the first seven minutes.

“They outperformed us,” Leonie Fievich said. “They played harder, with more intensity and effort.”

The Liberty’s 16 turnovers handed Seattle 15 points, and they scored 21 points off fast breaks.

Despite being one of the least rebounding teams in the league, the Storm out-rebounded the Liberty 39-28.

“I can’t even count how many offensive rebounds they got because I missed my boxouts,” Fibitsch admitted. “These mistakes are unacceptable and can significantly impact the game.”

The Storm entered Thursday’s matchup averaging a league-low 78.8 points, yet they scored 99 points— the most in regulation this season.

All five Storm starters registered double figures, with rookie Fraujai Johnson achieving a career-high and game-high of 28 points. Second-year center Dominic Malonga contributed with 20 points and 10 rebounds.