Liberty believe in their Big 3 as they go for another win over Storm
The New York Liberty, who have responded to a dismal 2-8 stretch by winning five of their past six games, made no moves prior to Sunday's trade deadline, and that's just fine with coach Chris DeMarco.
"We love the players in our building," DeMarco said. "We're confident we're going to be playing our best basketball when it matters most."
The Liberty (18-13) will complete a two-game set with the visiting Seattle Storm (6-26) on Wednesday night.
It's a rematch of Monday's game, which the Liberty won, 95-83. That marked New York's first double-digit win since July 3.
Meanwhile, the Storm have lost nine straight games. That's two losses short of the franchise-record 11-game skid Seattle suffered through earlier this season.
The Storm, who have the worst road record in the WNBA (2-15) as well as the worst overall record, did get a great performance on Monday from rookie Flau'jae Johnson, who scored a game-high 25 points.
Johnson said "it was lit" when asked about the environment at Monday's game in New York, including a visit by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"The dude from 'Ted Lasso' (Liberty fan Jason Sudeikis) was there. Steve Kerr was there," Johnson said. "It was a vibe. I wanted to win."
It will probably be a similar "vibe" on Wednesday as the Liberty attempt to move up the league standings. Currently in seventh place, the Liberty are just 1 1/2 games out of fourth.
The 2024 league champions have been slowed this year by injuries. New York has used 13 different starting lineups.
In addition, the quartet of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally have played just six games together. Sabally has not played since June 23 due to concussion protocol.
Given those injuries, including to starting forward Leonie Fiebich, who is currently out due to a left foot issue, Stewart has been vital.
In July, she averaged 26.4 points -- the highest average of any month in her career. She also shot 43.3% on 3-pointers in July.
Jones, Stewart and Ionescu were big on Monday, combining to score New York's first 26 points. Overall, they combined to score 62.
Seattle will again counter with its "Big Three" of Johnson, Natisha Hiedeman and Dominique Malonga, who combined to score 59 points on Monday.
--Field Level Media
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 |  | End of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 0.4 | | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.4 | | Marine Fauthoux misses a 3-point jump shot from 63 feet out. | ||
| 04.7 | | Marine Fauthoux with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 04.7 |  | Zia Cooke misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | ||
| 26.4 | | +1 | Xu Han makes free throw 2 of 2. | 16-27 |
| 26.4 | | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 26.4 | | Xu Han misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 26.4 | | Shooting foul committed by Stefanie Dolson. | ||
| 41.0 | | +2 | Zia Cooke makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. | 16-26 |
| 53.5 | | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-26 |
| 53.5 | | Substitution: Jordan Horston in for Katie Lou Samuelson. | ||
| 53.5 | | Substitution: Marine Fauthoux in for Sabrina Ionescu. | ||
| 53.5 | | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 53.5 | | Breanna Stewart misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 53.5 | | Shooting foul committed by Awa Fam. | ||
| 1:03 | | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:03 | | Awa Fam misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | ||
| 1:14 | | Stefanie Dolson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:14 | | Awa Fam misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 1:23 | | Stefanie Dolson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:23 | | Rebekah Gardner misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 1:31 | | Marine Johannes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:31 | | Jade Melbourne misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 1:42 | | Katie Lou Samuelson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:42 | | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | ||
| 2:03 | | +2 | Jade Melbourne makes a layup. | 14-25 |
| 2:12 | | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Marine Johannes with the assist. | 12-25 |
| 2:18 | | Rebekah Gardner steals the ball from Awa Fam. | ||
| 2:30 | | Awa Fam with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:30 | | Breanna Stewart misses a layup. | ||
| 2:41 | | Liberty take a full timeout. | ||
| 2:42 | | +2 | Jade Melbourne makes a layup. | 12-23 |
| 2:45 | | Jade Melbourne steals the ball from Xu Han. | ||
| 2:57 | | +1 | Jade Melbourne makes free throw 2 of 2. | 10-23 |
| 2:57 | | Substitution: Marine Johannes in for Pauline Astier. | ||
| 2:57 | | +1 | Jade Melbourne makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-23 |
| 2:57 | | Shooting foul committed by Rebekah Gardner. | ||
| 3:10 | | +2 | Xu Han makes a hook shot from 6 feet out. Rebekah Gardner with the assist. | 8-23 |
| 3:29 | | +2 | Katie Lou Samuelson makes a layup. Awa Fam with the assist. | 8-21 |
| 3:36 | | Awa Fam with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:36 | | Katie Lou Samuelson misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 3:46 | | Substitution: Zia Cooke in for Dominique Malonga. | ||
| 3:46 | | Substitution: Stefanie Dolson in for Flau'Jae Johnson. | ||
| 3:46 | | Substitution: Jade Melbourne in for Natisha Hiedeman. | ||
| 3:46 | | Substitution: Rebekah Gardner in for Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 3:46 | | Substitution: Xu Han in for Rebecca Allen. | ||
| 3:46 | | Storm take a full timeout. | ||
| 3:49 | | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Rebecca Allen with the assist. | 6-21 |
| 3:58 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:58 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a layup. | ||
| 4:13 | | Dominique Malonga with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:13 | | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 4:27 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:27 | | Awa Fam misses a layup. | ||
| 4:31 | | Awa Fam with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 4:31 | | Flau'Jae Johnson misses a layup. | ||
| 4:41 | | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Pauline Astier with the assist. | 6-19 |
| 5:01 | | +2 | Katie Lou Samuelson makes a layup. Awa Fam with the assist. | 6-17 |
| 5:12 | | +2 | Rebecca Allen makes a layup. | 4-17 |
| 5:18 | | Rebecca Allen steals the ball from Natisha Hiedeman. | ||
| 5:27 | | +1 | Pauline Astier makes free throw 1 of 1. | 4-15 |
| 5:27 | | Substitution: Awa Fam in for Ezi Magbegor. | ||
| 5:27 | | Shooting foul committed by Natisha Hiedeman. | ||
| 5:27 | | +2 | Pauline Astier makes a layup. | 4-14 |
| 5:35 | | Pauline Astier with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:35 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:53 | | +3 | Rebecca Allen makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 4-12 |
| 6:08 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:08 | | Flau'Jae Johnson misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | ||
| 6:17 | | Flau'Jae Johnson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:17 | | Katie Lou Samuelson misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 6:22 | | Personal foul committed by Pauline Astier. | ||
| 6:38 | | Substitution: Katie Lou Samuelson in for Jade Melbourne. | ||
| 6:38 | | Storm take a full timeout. | ||
| 6:39 | | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Pauline Astier with the assist. | 4-9 |
| 6:46 | | Rebecca Allen steals the ball from Natisha Hiedeman. | ||
| 6:48 | | Storm with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:48 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a layup. | ||
| 7:14 | | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 4-7 |
| 7:30 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:30 | | Flau'Jae Johnson misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 7:38 | | Flau'Jae Johnson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:38 | | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:50 | | +2 | Ezi Magbegor makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 4-5 |
| 8:07 | | +2 | Rebecca Allen makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 2-5 |
| 8:10 | | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:10 | | Jonquel Jones blocks a Ezi Magbegor layup. | ||
| 8:33 | | +3 | Rebecca Allen makes a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 2-3 |
| 8:46 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:46 | | Dominique Malonga misses a layup. | ||
| 8:57 | | Jade Melbourne with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:57 | | Rebecca Allen misses a layup. | ||
| 9:12 | | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:12 | | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 9:18 | | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:18 | | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 9:24 | | Sabrina Ionescu with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:24 | | Jonquel Jones misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 9:37 | | +2 | Flau'Jae Johnson makes a layup. | 2-0 |
| 9:37 | | Flau'Jae Johnson steals the ball from Breanna Stewart. | ||
| 9:46 | | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:46 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Dominique Malonga vs. Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 10:00 | | Start of the 1st Quarter |
| Min. Per Game | ||
| Pts. Per Game | ||
| Ast. Per Game | ||
| Reb. Per Game | ||
| Field Goal % | ||
| Three Point % | ||
| Free Throw % |
|
Liberty with an offensive rebound. | 0.4 |
|
Marine Fauthoux misses a 3-point jump shot from 63 feet out. | 0.4 |
|
Marine Fauthoux with a defensive rebound. | 04.7 |
|
Zia Cooke misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | 04.7 |
| |
+ 1 | Xu Han makes free throw 2 of 2. | 26.4 |
|
Liberty with an offensive rebound. | 26.4 |
|
Xu Han misses free throw 1 of 2. | 26.4 |
|
Shooting foul committed by Stefanie Dolson. | 26.4 |
| |
+ 2 | Zia Cooke makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. | 41.0 |
| |
+ 1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2. | 53.5 |
|
Liberty with an offensive rebound. | 53.5 |
| Team Stats | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Points | 16 | 27 |
| Field Goals | 7-23 (30.4%) | 11-21 (52.4%) |
| 3-Pointers | 0-7 (0.0%) | 2-9 (22.2%) |
| Free Throws | 2-2 (100.0%) | 3-5 (60.0%) |
| Total Rebounds | 11 | 17 |
| Offensive | 4 | 2 |
| Defensive | 6 | 11 |
| Team | 1 | 4 |
| Assists | 3 | 9 |
| Steals | 2 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Fouls | 3 | 2 |
| Technicals | 0 | 0 |
| Key Players | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
00
|
J. Melbourne G | 8.6 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 3.9 APG | 45.8 FG% |
|
00
|
R. Allen G | 3.4 PPG | 1.8 RPG | 0.6 APG | 29.5 FG% |
| Top Scorers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Melbourne G | 6 PTS | 1 REB | 0 AST | ||
| R. Allen G | 10 PTS | 0 REB | 1 AST | ||
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Melbourne | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2/3 | 0/1 | 2/2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 8 |
| Z. Cooke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 2 |
| S. Dolson | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +4 | 2 |
| J. Horston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| A. Fam | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0/3 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Melbourne | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2/3 | 0/1 | 2/2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 8 |
| Z. Cooke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 2 |
| S. Dolson | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +4 | 2 |
| J. Horston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| A. Fam | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0/3 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| K. Samuelson | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2/4 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -7 | 5 |
| Total | 16 | 10 | 3 | 7/23 | 0/7 | 2/2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | +1 | - |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| B. Stewart | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3/6 | 0/2 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +11 | 10 |
| H. Xu | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 2 |
| R. Gardner | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 3 |
| M. Johannes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| M. Fauthoux | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| B. Stewart | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3/6 | 0/2 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +11 | 10 |
| H. Xu | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 2 |
| R. Gardner | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 3 |
| M. Johannes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| M. Fauthoux | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| Total | 27 | 13 | 9 | 11/21 | 2/9 | 3/5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | - |