The Seattle Storm pulled off a statement win on July 6, defeating the New York Liberty 79–70 at Barclays Center in a game defined by lockdown defense and a dominant third quarter. After trailing at halftime, Seattle overwhelmed New York in the third frame with a 13–0 run and held the Liberty to just six points—their lowest output in a single quarter this season. The Storm’s second-half defensive effort was relentless, forcing New York into poor shot selection and holding them to just 24.2% from the field after the break.
Gabby Williams was instrumental in the turnaround, coming off the bench to score 16 points while adding 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals—10 of those points coming during Seattle’s game-breaking third quarter. Nneka Ogwumike added 15 points and 7 boards, providing the veteran presence the Storm needed to close out the win. The bench contributions, especially from Williams, gave Seattle the energy edge that shifted momentum squarely in their favor.
On the other side, the Liberty’s stars couldn’t maintain early success. Sabrina Ionescu scored 20 points in the first half but was largely neutralized in the second, finishing with 22 on 6-of-17 shooting. Former Storm standout Breanna Stewart struggled against her old team, shooting just 4-for-17 and ending with eight points. With star center Jonquel Jones already sidelined, New York’s interior play and shot creation suffered heavily down the stretch.
Injuries further complicated matters for the Liberty. Forward Isabelle Harrison left early with a knee injury, while Natasha Cloud exited later with a hip issue. The team, already dealing with roster depth concerns, now faces the challenge of regaining rhythm and chemistry amid a string of health setbacks. These losses highlight a growing vulnerability as the team heads into a crucial midseason stretch.
With this loss, New York dropped to 12–6 and has now lost six of its last nine games. They will face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on July 8 in a key matchup before the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the surging Storm improve to 14–7 and continue to build chemistry around Ogwumike, Jewell Loyd, and Skylar Diggins-Smith. The Liberty will need to regroup quickly to keep pace in the increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.