Storm Snap Losing Streak in Impressive Win Over Liberty

Seattle picked up their first win in the month of June.

Written By: Danny Williams
Twitter: danny_w22

(Seattle, WA) - After a franchise record 11 consecutive losses, the Seattle Storm (4-15) finally got back in the win column with an impressive victory over the New York Liberty (12-7), 99-88. The Liberty were without former Storm legend Breanna Stewart and the Storm led almost from start to finish spearheaded by rookie Flau’jae Johnson who delivered her best performance of her young career so far.

The Storm scored 90-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time this season and the entire starting lineup scored in double-figures. Johnson scored a game and career-high 28 points (11-23 FG) and added nine rebounds (four offensive) and three steals. Johnson also hit four three-pointers, a season high.

Coach Raman had this to say about Johnson’s performance.

“Flau is taking what the game is giving her. I wasn’t telling her to score more or anything like that going into the game, it’s just being aggressive and continuing to push her on ‘what are the reads? What does the defense do in this particular game? What to expect? Where might the openings be?’ And from there the players take it.”

Although it was not quite the 37-point 12-rebound performance from Monday, Dominique Molanga quietly added 20 points and 10 rebounds on an extremely efficient 75% (9-12) shooting. Her frontcourt mate Awa Fam added 15 points and six rebounds, hitting two three-pointers.

Jade Melbourne after missing the last game played her best game in a Storm uniform. The guard scored 18 points and dished out seven assists, both season highs. Melbourne was pivotal down the stretch, breaking the Liberty press and hitting free throws (6-7 FT). Natisha Hiedeman added 11 points on volume shooting (5-12 FG).

The Storm shot 52% from the field (39-75 FG) and shot 80% from the free throw line (12-15 FT). Seattle dominated with points in the paint (54-42) and on the glass (39-28) leading a plus-six advantage in second-chance points (13 offensive rebounds).

The Storm’s fast pace-of-play (21-4 fast-break points advantage) terrorized the Liberty and blitzed a team that came to Climate Pledge Arena thinking it would just waltz in and pick up a victory — that clearly was not the case.

New York Liberty

Without Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones delivered a powerful performance for the Liberty. Jones scored 26 points (10-17 FG) and grabbed eight rebounds. Jones, however, struggled from the foul-line shooting just 3-7 from the stripe.

Leonie Fiebich added 19 points and two steals and star guard Sabrina Ionescu was held to just 14 points on 5-12 shooting. The Liberty were held to just 27.8% (10-36 FG) from three which led to long rebounds and fast-break opportunities for the Storm.

The Liberty scored 23 bench points to the Storm’s seven. The Liberty also shot 20 free throws, five more than the Storm.

Game Breakdown

Leonie Fiebich started the night out with a three pointer and Natisha Hiedeman responded with a floater on the other end. Dominique Molanga collected an offensive rebound on a drive from Flau’jae Johnson. Jonquel Jones scored a quick five points – a three pointer and a layup. Malonga added two more on a cut and Jade Melbourne in her return dashed to the hoop for a layup. Flau’jae Johnson followed with a tough layup of her own. Malonga capped off the 7-0 run with a top of the key triple to put the Storm up five.

Out of the timeout Jones drove for two more. Hiedeman found Awa Fam on a cut. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton drilled a wing three and Johnson scored on an offensive rebound assist from Katie Lou Samuelson. Han Xu and Hiedeman traded layups and Malonga scored in transition off a Johnson steal. Hiedeman added another transition layup to put the Storm up by eight. Fiebich hit another three pointer and Xu scored near the rim to bring the lead back down to three points. Fiebich drove to the rim and Xu scored again as the Liberty took the lead. Awa Fam quickly answered; however, with a three. Samuelson scored on a reverse layup and the first quarter ended with the Storm up 28-24.

Raquel Carrera started the scoring off for the Liberty in the second quarter with a layup. Melbourne poured in a free throw on a transition take foul. Johnson added a three pointer and Carrera scored down low on the other end. Malonga drove to the rim and became the first player in double-figure scoring with 11 points. Malonga dished a nice assist to a driving Hiedeman and Sabrina Ionescu finally got on the board for the Liberty with a three pointer. Johnson hit a pull-up jumper and pushed the Storm lead back to seven, 38-31.

Fam scored inside and Jones answered with back-to-back put-backs. Johnson hit a smooth turnaround jumper then followed up with a wing three to put the Storm up by 10. Ionescu got to the rim for two and Malonga answered with an AND-1 put-back on the other end. Fiebich copied Malonga with her own AND-1 play and the half ended with the Storm up 48-40.

The Storm shot 51.2% (21-41 FG) to the Liberty 42.5% (17-40 FG). The Storm outrebounded the Liberty 22-13 and outscored the Liberty 30-24 in the paint. Malonga finished the first half with 14 points and seven rebounds. Johnson scored 14 points as well.

After a 1:43 scoreless streak by both teams to start the third quarter, Johnson finally got the scoring started by splitting a pair at the free throw line. Jones got the Liberty on the board with an AND-1 layup. Stefanie Dolson put in two more free throws and Jones answered with another score down low. Fiebich scored off an offensive rebound and the Storm lead was cut to four. Fam netted a baseline jumper. Carrera split free throws after the Liberty entered the bonus with 4:32 remaining in the quarter. Fiebich added two more free throws. The Storm followed suit and Melbourne went to the line and made a pair, putting Seattle in the bonus. Malonga added two more in the post and Melbourne scored off a steal to put the Storm back up by 10.

Rebekah Gardner scored her first points of the night on a pair of free throws for the Liberty. Hiedeman dropped in a three pointer and Xu responded with a post bucket. Melbourne poured in a floater over Xu and followed with a drive to the rack. Fiebich nailed a three to quell the mini run but Malonga scored right after with a layup. Marine Johannès nailed a three and Johnson closed the quarter with a buzzer-beating three pointer in the corner to put the Storm up 12, 72-60.

Johannès started the fourth quarter with another triple and Jones got deep in the paint for two. Zia Cooke finally broke the seal for the Storm with a corner three, followed shortly by a Johnson triple, forcing the Liberty to call a timeout. Out of the timeout the Storm hit another three, this one courtesy of Fam. Ionescu quickly calmed down the fans with an AND-1 on the other end. Carrera then scored off an Ionescu dish. Johnson collected a steal and score, but Jones hit a three in response. Melbourne drove for the AND-1 finish to put the Storm back up 13.

Jones once again hit a three to quell the Seattle crowd, but Fam lit the arena right back up with an AND-1 of her own. Pauline Astier continued the scoring frenzy with an AND-1 in response. Ionescu scored a tough floater and the Storm called timeout only up by eight with 3:59 remaining. Johnson got her own miss on a corner three and scored a putback and Melbourne drove for two more. Ionescu got back to the foul line and hit both shots. Fiebich strolled to the line as well, but split the pair. Johnson collected another steal and score. Jones this time went to the line for Liberty, making both. Melbourne broke the Liberty press and was fouled, and split the two free throws. Johnson did the same and the Storm led by 11 with 1:02 remaining. Melbourne found Malonga for two and Ionescu got two on the other end. Melbourne dribbled out the clock as the Storm picked up the 99-88 victory.

Final Box Score

Up Next

The Seattle Storm (4-15) conclude their 3-game home stand on Saturday, 6/27 at 6:00 PM against the Atlanta Dream (12-5). This will be the first time the two teams face off against one another this year.

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Photography Credits: Seattle Storm/WNBA Photography
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