Brooklyn, NY — The Seattle Storm used a commanding third-quarter run to rally past the New York Liberty, earning a 79-70 victory on Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center.
Trailing 44-41 at halftime, the Storm (12-7) completely flipped the script in the third quarter, outscoring New York 22-6 while holding the Liberty to just 2-of-18 shooting in the period. New York (12-6) missed its first 10 shots to start the half, allowing Seattle to seize control.
On the offensive end, Gabby Williams led the Storm with 16 points, while Nneka Ogwumike added 15. Skylar Diggins-Smith chipped in with timely buckets during the run. But the surprise of the game came from Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 overall pick, who came off the bench in the second half and made an instant impact. The 6-foot-6 forward from France scored 11 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and disrupted Breanna Stewart on multiple possessions. Stewart, who was held to just 8 points, failed to reach double digits for the first time since the Liberty’s season opener.
Sabrina Ionescu was red-hot in the first half, dropping 20 points including five 3-pointers and a highlight-reel full-court assist to Rebekah Gardner. But her production cooled in the second half — she scored just 2 points after the break, finishing with 22 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists. Natasha Cloud chipped in 12 points, but no other Liberty player reached double figures.
New York’s offense unraveled in the second half, shooting just 22.9% from the hardwood and committing 17 turnovers, which Seattle turned into 20 points.
The Liberty’s frustrations were compounded when Isabelle Harrison went down with an injury late in the third quarter. She had to be helped off the court and did not return. The team is already missing Jonquel Jones, who remains out with a sprained ankle.
The first half was tightly contested, featuring nine lead changes and big moments — including a four-point play from Ionescu that gave the Liberty a 44-39 lead just before the break. But it was all Seattle after that.
The Liberty will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host the Las Vegas Aces.
