Liberty 81, Storm 66: Cloud-free
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Breanna Stewart’s superstardom was on full display in a victory in Seattle
Sunday was a gorgeous day in my hometown of Augusta, Georgia. Not a cloud in the sky. “Cloud-free” is also how Dick Fain, play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Storm, described Breanna Stewart’s early exploits in Sunday’s 81-66 win for the New York Liberty in Stewart’s old digs.
In her second matchup against her former team since leaving for the Big Apple in free agency, the 2018 MVP poured in 14 points in the first quarter.
That matched Seattle’s total for the quarter and, combined with 12 from her New York teammates, made for a double-digit lead that could not be overcome. Stewart scored just eight over the next three quarters, but Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu each added 10 in the second half.
It was the Liberty defense, not offense, that put Stewart in position to take in more than six minutes of the game from courtside, holding the Storm to 35% from the field and forcing 19 turnovers, a season-high. Jewell Lloyd was the lone bright spot for the home team and lone irritant for the visiting victors. Fresh off 41 in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Lynx, she finished with 27 Sunday, connecting on six of 10 3-point tries.
But it was too little, too late, too often. Every bucket by Lloyd was countered with the kind of temperament only a team fighting above its weight class could muster, locking down on defense and relying on fundamentals to keep the offense in stride.
Notes
New York leads the WNBA in assists per game at 24.2, and Sunday’s showing was a near-perfect showcase of their formula and process. They finished with only three made field goals that were unassisted; 30 out of 33 makes were. Props to head coach Sandy Brondello and my favorite floor general in Vandersloot for the mantra and style they’ve adopted in such a short time together. Perhaps the real Liberties are the passes we make to open teammates along the way.
Every time I sit down to watch this team, I do so wondering if that day/game will be the day/game we see Jonquel Jones return to form. What a luxury it is that 15 games into the season, we’ve not seen it yet – and that New York isn’t waiting on it. Jones will find her form, of that much I have little doubt. But most of my confidence stems from the fact that the Liberty aren’t feeling pressured for her to. With Ionescu, Stewart, Vandersloot and others playing like MVPs – for some, just in their roles – Jones is truly taking her rehabilitation day-to-day while also actively playing a role on a winning team.
Betnijah Laney, you are a joy to watch.
Jewell Lloyd, you are absolutely terrifying to watch so long as you’re playing opposite the team I’m rooting for.
Let’s stop for a second to admire the body of work Lloyd is putting together this season: 25.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39% from the floor, 41% from 3-point territory and 81% from the charity stripe. Jinkies.
With as many hugs as have been shared in both of her homecoming games, it’s easy to see how important these matchups are for Stewart. Her ability to ignore the outside noise and play not only a good game, but a great game in these environments is just another feather in her “legend of the game” cap.
Shoutout to Han Xu, who fueled her team in China to its first FIBA Asia Cup title since 2011 with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in the championship win. New York will be happy to have her back once the parade runs its course.
Sunday was a gorgeous day in Augusta; not a cloud in the sky. “Cloud-free” is also how I’d describe this Seattle Storm team, with Breanna Stewart’s early shine too much for Jewell Lloyd’s three-point showers to overcome. Next game is Wednesday versus Phoenix.