Liberty vs. Storm: Can New York Bounce Back After Shocking Loss?

The New York Liberty will try to snap out of their mini-funk on Friday night as they visit the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena. The Liberty (26-8) have lost two of their last three games, and are only narrow favorites over the Storm (19-11) in tonight’s WNBA odds.

The New York Liberty have looked like the best team in the WNBA all season long, but you wouldn’t know this if you had only watched them over the past week. After dropping a game to a fellow championship contender in the Connecticut Sun, New York bounced back with a road win over the Phoenix Mercury. However, that was followed by a six-point defeat on Wednesday night at the hands of the Los Angeles Sparks, the team with the worst record in the league.

That’s not cause for panic in New York. The Liberty still have one of the most talented rosters in the WNBA, and they’ve only lost six games all season. New York has been elite on both ends of the court, with the combination of Breanna Stewart (20.1 ppg) and Sabrina Ionescu (19.3 ppg) giving the Liberty a level of scoring punch that few teams can match.

The Liberty match that attack with sharp defense. New York ranks third in defensive rating (94.4) and are holding opponents to just 42.5% shooting from the field. They don’t give up free points at the foul line either, as opponents get a league-low 14.8 free throw attempts per game.

New York faces one of their tougher opponents tonight. The Seattle Storm has nearly as much offensive firepower behind Jewell Loyd (20.4 ppg) and Nneka Ogwumike (17.2 ppg), and like the Liberty, they are among the top defensive teams in the WNBA.

But two factors have me favoring New York tonight. First, the Storm aren’t playing great as of late themselves, losing three of their last five and going just 1-8 against the spread in their last nine games overall.

Then there’s the fact that the Liberty continue to play up — or down — to their opponents. I’ve bet against New York when it has been a big favorite this year with great success. But outside of those games, the Liberty have been good for backers, going an incredible 15-3 ATS if we exclude games where they were double-digit favorites. I’m taking the Liberty to bounce back with a big road win tonight.

Liberty vs. Storm: Key Players to Watch

Both teams are led by strong offensive players who can take over a game. The Storm will be looking for a big performance from Jewell Loyd, who is averaging 20.4 points per game. Loyd has been a consistent scorer for the Storm, and she will be looking to lead her team to victory against a tough Liberty defense.

The Liberty will be looking for Sabrina Ionescu to step up. Ionescu is averaging 19.3 points per game, and she is one of the most dangerous players in the WNBA. If she can find her rhythm, she could lead the Liberty to a big win.

Liberty vs. Storm: Keys to the Game

Seattle Storm

The Storm need to find a way to slow down the Liberty’s offense. The Liberty are averaging 85.5 points per game, which is second in the WNBA. If the Storm can force turnovers and make it difficult for the Liberty to get into their offensive sets, they will have a chance to win.

New York Liberty

The Liberty need to continue to play with their usual intensity on both ends of the court. The Liberty are a very talented team, but they have been prone to inconsistency. They need to come out and play with energy from the start. They also need to make sure they don’t turn the ball over, especially against a strong Seattle defense.

Liberty vs. Storm: The Verdict

This is a tough game to call, but I believe the Liberty will bounce back from their recent loss. The Liberty have a strong team, and they are more than capable of beating the Seattle Storm. The Storm has a lot of talent, and they can certainly be a tough opponent. But the Liberty have a slight edge in this matchup. I’m taking the Liberty to win.