Liberty’s Performance Despite Recent Struggles
This week, Liberty reflected on the team’s overall vibe, which has remained positive despite losing five out of their last seven games.
However, during Thursday night’s match, a hint of panic started to creep in.
With less than seven minutes left in the third quarter, Liberty fell behind by double digits and seemed to be struggling.
The shots just weren’t landing.
There was a defensive lapse, and it started to look uncomfortable.
But then, in a surprising shift, Liberty surged ahead like a race car.
The defending champions capitalized on a third-quarter push to secure an 89-79 victory over the Sparks. They executed an impressive 27-6 run, turning an 11-point deficit into a ten-point lead by the start of the fourth quarter.
Once ahead, Liberty didn’t let the Sparks regain any momentum.
Natasha Cloud and Sabrina Ionescu both had strong performances in the third quarter, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively. The team collectively scored a season-high 32 points in that quarter, shooting an impressive 63% from the field and 71.4% from beyond the arc.
Cloud ended the game with a season-high 23 points, along with three three-pointers, seven assists, and four rebounds. Breanna Stewart achieved her third double-double of the season, contributing 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Ionescu added 20 points, six assists, and six rebounds. With this win, Liberty improved to 12-5.
While the outcome was certainly a win for Liberty, it doesn’t fully erase the inconsistencies they displayed for much of the night. Teams aiming to repeat as champions should ideally have a stronger presence as the season reaches the midway point.
Thursday presented a chance for Liberty to assert dominance. With Leonie Fevich back and Ionescu reporting that her neck twist was no longer an issue, the energy was palpable.
Over 17,000 fans filled the Barclays Center, passionately supporting the team against the struggling Sparks, who sit at 11th in the league standings.
This late-game dominance helped ease some concerns, but Liberty still needs to avoid allowing opponents to build comfortable leads.
Most of their upcoming games will be at home, providing an opportunity to regain control of the season.
Closing out the game against the Sparks was encouraging, but there’s a need for consistent performance throughout the entire game.
Liberty will face the Storm next on Sunday.
