The New York Liberty were in freefall. After starting the season with an invincible record of 9-0, the defending champions lost 5 of 7 games. They finally woke up from their slumber, but it took two subpar quarters and being under tremendous pressure to bring out their old self. Sabrina Ionesco and Co. lost the first half by four points and then conceded five straight points to start the third quarter. Leonie Fienich’s return did not paper over the cracks in the Liberty defense as Sparks continued to test them.

Liberty was down 46-37 in the early stages of the third quarter when Sandy Brondello decided it was enough. She called a timeout, after which the team locked in and finished the quarter up by 10. They retained control in the last and finished out the game, winning 89-79. The second-best team of the season so far will next face the unpredictable Seattle Storm. Storm is coming from an up-and-down game against the Dream, as it featured nine ties and 25 lead changes, and neither team led by more than seven points. The Storm managed to squeak out a single-point win. This will be a great opportunity for the Storm to get some consistent form, but the Liberty are no slouch; let’s dive into the injury lists for both and a preview of the upcoming game. 

Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty: Injury Report

The Seattle Storm will be without forward Katie Lou Samuelson for the entire 2025 season after surgery to repair a torn ACL in her right knee, and she is the only one on the injury list for the Storm.

For the Liberty, Jonquel Jones is out after reinjuring her right ankle on June 19 in a game against Phoenix. This was her second sprain of the same ankle this season, the first happening on June 5. The Liberty announced on June 21 that she would be sidelined for four to six weeks. While there is no confirmed return date, she is expected back around July 22 following the All-Star break. 

Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty: Predicted Lineups

Seattle Storm

Skylar Diggins 

Erica Wheeler 

Gabby Williams 

Nneka Ogwumike 

Ezi Magbebor

New York Liberty

Natasha Cloud

Sabrina Ionescu 

Leonie Fiebich 

Kennedy Burke Collier 

Breanna Stewart

Match Preview: Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty

Without Jonquel Jones, the New York Liberty’s defensive performance has taken a noticeable hit. Their defensive rating has climbed to 97.8, which still ranks third in the league, but it highlights the impact of her absence. Jones is a vital piece for the Liberty on both ends of the floor. Without her presence, the team’s rhythm seems off.

Offensively, the Liberty have mostly managed to cope. They continue to generate high-quality looks and still lead the league in scoring. However, their possessions can occasionally stagnate. A fast start is crucial, especially against a team like the Storm, which is capable of punishing early lapses.

“We have to be able to throw the first punch,” said Natasha Cloud following their last game. “And obviously, we started slow today, so we got to figure it out within our locker room, and that’s something that we talked about at halftime, just having the accountability.”

Despite missing Jones, the Liberty have maintained an outstanding home record, winning seven out of eight games at Barclays Center. They are also ranked fifth in the WNBA for points allowed per game at 79.8 and are limiting opponents to just 41.4 percent shooting. Rebounding remains a concern without Jones, but they may catch a break against the Storm, who rank last in the league in rebounding with just 31 boards per game. The return of Leonie Fiebich provides much-needed help on the glass and partially addresses their frontcourt depth issues.

The Seattle Storm have won three of their last five games and come into this matchup with momentum. Nneka Ogwumike is back in form, fresh off a 24-point performance. The Storm will aim to tighten up defensively to contain New York’s lightning-quick offense, currently the fastest in the league in pace. On a good day, Seattle can outscore anyone, but this will be a serious challenge. They’ve gone five and four on the road and will be looking to improve that to six and four against the Liberty.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their previous matchup on June 22, the Storm claimed an 89 to 79 victory. Ogwumike led the way with 26 points, while Breanna Stewart paced the Liberty with 18. Both stars are expected to play major roles again, but this time, Sabrina Ionescu will be available for the Liberty, adding another dimension to their offense that was missing in the last encounter.

The Storm are beginning to find their rhythm, while the Liberty continue to seek stability in the absence of Jonquel Jones. According to the ESPN predictor, New York enters the game as the favorite with a 71.8 percent chance of victory. However, Seattle has already shown they are capable of winning this matchup. With both teams pushing for stronger playoff positioning, this promises to be a high-stakes, high-energy contest where the battle on the boards and overall execution could ultimately determine the winner.