Hillary Clinton got a warm reception and a loud jumbotron ovation at Barclays Centre on Monday night, but the New York Liberty gave the home crowd even more to celebrate with a 95-83 win over the Seattle Storm.
The former two-term first lady chatted with Jonquel Jones before tip-off and was shown on the arena video board as fans reacted loudly to her appearance. For a regular-season WNBA game, it added an unusual layer of attention to a night that already carried some urgency for the Liberty.
Liberty needed the win
New York had dropped eight of 10 before Monday and was on the edge of sliding out of a postseason position. The Liberty were still seventh in the standings after the win, one game behind sixth-place Atlanta and one-half game ahead of eighth-place Washington.
That context made the result important beyond the matchup itself. The Liberty had also been living through a run of close games, having recently won four contests by four points or fewer, including a pair of one-point victories. This one was more comfortable, and it came against a Seattle team that was in a nine-game losing streak.
The Liberty’s last wire-to-wire win before Monday had come on May 29, which made the 95-83 result feel even more useful. New York took control early and built a 15-0 run on the way to an 85-67 lead, showing the kind of early edge it had been missing during the recent skid.
Jones, Stewart and Ionescu set the tone
Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 24 points and also added eight rebounds. Breanna Stewart scored 20 points, and Sabrina Ionescu finished with 18 points and six assists as New York got balanced production from its core.
Jones said Clinton told the team she was excited to be there and watch them play, and she called the moment a great experience. She also said her message to the group was simple: continue to play and lean into each other.
That message fit the night. Stewart said there is another level the team can reach, and Ionescu said the priority is to protect home court and stack wins, adding that every game matters. After the way the Liberty responded, that approach looked practical rather than hopeful.
Chris DeMarco said the team can respond to adversity and that it is not just a few players doing the work right now. Stewart added that when five players on the court are aggressive, it forces opponents to make difficult choices.
For the Liberty, the win was about more than the spotlight on Barclays Centre. It was a needed step in the standings, a cleaner performance after a difficult stretch, and a reminder that the team still controls its path if it can keep putting together complete games.
