The New York Liberty got what they needed on Monday night at Barclay's Center: a 95-83 win over the Seattle Storm, a little breathing room in the playoff race, and a reminder that a crowded season can still produce a memorable moment. Hillary Clinton was in attendance, chatted briefly with Jonquel Jones before tip-off and drew a loud ovation when she appeared on the jumbotron.
For the Liberty, the result mattered almost as much as the setting. New York had dropped eight of 10 before the game and had been on the brink of falling out of a postseason spot. Instead, the defending champions steadied themselves, improved to 18-13 and remained seventh in the playoff hunt after the final buzzer.
A strong start and a decisive run
The Liberty came out with purpose. After the opening period, they led by 10 points, and that early cushion helped them stay in control even as Seattle tried to hang around. The key stretch came in the third and fourth quarters, when New York put together a 15-0 run to open an 85-67 lead.
That burst was important because the Liberty had spent much of the recent stretch grinding through close games. They had won each of their previous four games by four points or fewer, including a pair of one-point victories. This time, the margin was more comfortable, and that mattered against a Seattle team that had lost nine in a row entering the night.
Jones, Stewart and Ionescu lead the way
Jonquel Jones paced the Liberty with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Breanna Stewart added 20 points and Sabrina Ionescu finished with 18 points and six assists. The three of them gave New York the kind of balanced production the team has been looking for.
Stewart said afterward that there is still another level the team can reach. That fits the broader picture. New York has the talent to score in a hurry, but its recent stretch has been defined by just how hard it has had to work for every win. Jones said her message was to keep playing and lean into each other, and Ionescu said the Liberty wanted to protect home court and stack wins, adding that every game is important.
Head coach Chris DeMarco pointed to the collective response, saying the team can respond to adversity and that it is not just a few players right now. He also emphasized that getting where the Liberty want to go will take everybody.
Why the win mattered in the standings
The result leaves New York one game behind sixth-place Atlanta and one-half game ahead of eighth-place Washington. That makes the next stretch significant, especially with the playoff picture still tight.
For now, though, the Liberty can take a step back and appreciate a win that checked several boxes: a stronger performance, a more comfortable margin and a high-profile scene at Barclays Center. Jones called games like this nice every so often, and on Monday night, the Liberty got one at the right time.
