Recap The Court

Photo: Getty Images

Jacob Smith

The New York Liberty took down the Storm 74-63 on Monday night. Despite the shot creation from the Storm, New York’s depth and relentlessness was too much for Seattle to handle, and it started inside.

A lot of people got to know Jonquel Jones in Connecticut playing for that great Sun team, but if perhaps you missed it, tonight’s game was another introduction. Jonquel is a big part of what the Liberty do on both ends of the court, and Jones mobility and physicality around the rim anchored the Liberty’s defence and created offence when Jones back is to the rim.

The combination of Nyara Sabally and Jonquel Jones provides headaches for opposing teams trying to attack the New York defence, with Sabally’s ability to defend all over the court and Jones ability to protect the rim with the best of them and not give up space to anybody.

Going to the perimeter, everyone knows about the shooting of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, but New York’s relentless attack to the paint adds another layer to the Liberty’s offence which caused Seattle problems.

For a player like Stewart who had the length advantage in a majority of her matchups, to be able to take two dribbles and pull up in the post and hit it efficiently, or kick it out to the three-point shooters New York has, is a side of the offence that New York tried to exploit time and time again against Seattle.

Sabrina found countless ways to thread through the help defence and get to the rim, Stewart scored from every level, Jones and Sabally anchored the paint with their tenacity, New York gave Seattle too much to handle in their win.