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00:00Which is exactly what we want it to be, empty, that is for sure.
00:03Xfinity starting five, look at this, as you mentioned, Ezey Magmagor in the starting lineup.
00:08She and Malanga, Melvin Johnson and Heideman have played only three minutes together on the floor this season.
00:15Astier, Ionescu, Allen, Stewart and Jones, the starting five for the New York Liberty.
00:20The first game between these two teams went all Seattle.
00:24Sonja Rahman got a big victory against the New York Liberty team.
00:27A game between these two came on June the 25th.
00:31It was a 99-88 victory and it was really Seattle's guards penetrating.
00:37Like that's the one thing I remember from that game.
00:40The guards from New York just could not stop the penetration from Flaugé, Neteisha and others.
00:44Yeah, I was curious if they were going to change the game plan at halftime because they were just beating
00:48them one-on-one.
00:49And New York, no help defense to be found.
00:51Flaugé got to the rim at will, career high 28 points.
00:54So what are the adjustments for the Liberty tonight at home?
00:58They're a place that they're more comfortable than on the road.
01:00That one's tipped out of bounds.
01:02As you saw, Jade right away just on cue.
01:04There was the scouting report from the last game.
01:06Let's take it right to the rim.
01:07And Jade did, but they said last touch by Seattle, New York's first possession.
01:12And that was an emphasis also because Brianna Stewart did not play in that June 25th matchup.
01:16So you take out, you know, an incredible paint defender, attack the rim at will.
01:20That's what the Storm wanted to do.
01:21But we'll see if, we'll see more of it.
01:23Here's Yunescu who's had a great month of July now that she's healthy and just picks up where she left
01:27off.
01:28When she played against Seattle before, it was, it just looked different.
01:32It did not look like Sabrina Yunescu.
01:34She was still bothered by those injuries.
01:36Yeah, us in the Pacific Northwest, we know her game well.
01:38Playing at Oregon, probably should have won a national championship.
01:41She dealt with ankle injuries, back injuries, and now she seems like she's backed herself.
01:45Oh, and he's been kissing a window, too.
01:486-0 Sabrina over Seattle.
01:51She's coming off a 27-point game.
01:5410 assists, which is a season high, that's weird for her because normally you're used to seeing 11, 12.
01:59It's a normal thing for Sabrina Yunescu.
02:01Yeah, you saw 14 points, 5 assists, 5 of 12 in the field the last time playing Seattle.
02:05Just did not look herself.
02:07LaJay's been struggling from three.
02:09That's off the back iron rebound, Jade.
02:13Jade will attack.
02:15Closes down nicely by the Detroit, or by the New York defense, and the three ball in the corner.
02:19And Natisha Heidemann knocks down the triple, and she just keeps it going.
02:23They need her.
02:24Like we mentioned, first quarters, the Storm got behind in a big way in each of their last two games.
02:29It's hard when you're a young team fighting from behind, so Heidemann has to get the scoring going early.
02:33Be consistent.
02:34How about this Stewie-Dom match?
02:38Stewie kicks it back out, as will Jean-Paul Jones against Eze Magdegor, and Jones wins that battle.
02:45And New York, out to a nice cushion at 8-3.
02:48And that's where we saw Jean-Paul Jones, I thought, settle for the three a lot when they played in
02:52Seattle.
02:54But right now, taking it right to the rim against a thinner, Eze Magdegor.
02:59Jean-Paul Jones has the power.
03:01She's coming off the all-star MVP.
03:04I mean, she made history, right?
03:06Becoming the first player to win Commissioner's Cup MVP, WNBA all-star MVP, overall league MVP.
03:12She's had an incredible career, but almost quiet as of the last few years.
03:17Yeah, finals MVP.
03:18That's the quartet.
03:19The MVP quartet for Jean-Paul Jones, the only player ever to win all four of those awards.
03:26Heidemann thinks about it.
03:27Not in three games.
03:28Step back.
03:29You can see the cup and it's just oozing out of her.
03:32Misses that shot, however.
03:34Rebound taken down by Allen.
03:38Jones, top side.
03:40Picks it up.
03:42Cutting Sabrina.
03:43Kick back out.
03:44Stewie on the trail.
03:45Oh, no.
03:46Offensive rebound, Allen.
03:50Sabrina just looking to pull in the early going.
03:53He just handled the basketball.
03:54Loose gets it back.
03:56Four on the shot clock.
03:57Good backdoor cut.
03:58An even better pass by Inescu.
04:00What a tandem that is for New York.
04:01The vision that Sabrina Inescu has.
04:04And Stewie, the back cut.
04:06I mean, just taking advantage of the defense that was overplaying.
04:09Delivered perfectly.
04:15Flage up top gets the screen from Jade.
04:18Between the rickets now.
04:19Crossover dribble.
04:20Scoop it up.
04:21Shot blocked underneath by Rebecca Allen coming down on a Flage right-handed scoop shot.
04:29Draft to Sabrina.
04:30Gets it off to Jean-Claude Jones.
04:32Tipped in the air.
04:33Taken down by Dom.
04:34And that's the effort you need on defense if you're going to try to double off the on-ball.
04:38But, ah, turnover on the other end.
04:40Throws it right to Rebecca Allen.
04:42Fortunately for Seattle, they dodged the bullet there.
04:44And Dom pulls down the rebound.
04:46But that's the impact of Esi Maglagor on the other end.
04:49That defensive stop with her hands.
04:53Accelerating in the bounce pass.
04:54Nearly stolen.
04:55But a foul goes on Ionescu in an 11-3 ball game.
05:01And Wild now to see Awa Fahm come off the bench for the first time probably since her second or
05:07third game.
05:08She inserted into the starting lineup for the Storm pretty early on after her debut.
05:12And now a role change for her as he made the start.
05:16And as he comes out, we were wondering would Awa come in for a guard.
05:21And we'd see Dom at the 3, Awa at the 4, and Esi at the 5.
05:25Not yet, says Sonia Rahman.
05:26We have not seen that trio play together thus far this year.
05:30I'm looking forward to it.
05:31I want to see what that looks like.
05:33With Dom at a wing and Esi and, and, ah, you've got three bigs out there at the same time.
05:41And three ball knocked down.
05:42I'd love to see Fahm Maglagor and Dom play together.
05:45John Paul Jones knocks down the triple.
05:47It is all New York to start things off 14-3, the lead for the New York Liberty as we
05:52go
05:53to the first timeout of the game.
05:556-0-9 left to go in the first quarter.
05:57All Liberty thus far.
05:59Red hot from the...
06:00Then season high, 54 points in the paint.
06:04Obviously, they topped that with 55 a few later, a few games later in the season.
06:08But right now, try to take advantage of these guards because I think the Storm have a quickness
06:12advantage.
06:13She's going to do Samuelson in the game for the first time.
06:15She has played exceedingly well the last few weeks.
06:23Three ball by Fahm.
06:25Trying to get that triple going.
06:27She was so hot about three, four weeks ago.
06:29She has cooled off considerably.
06:32That one tipped by Natisha out of bounds.
06:35Yeah, the pick and pop.
06:36It's just so hard to defend.
06:38Even then, Brianna Stewart couldn't get her hand up high enough because the release is
06:42so quick.
06:44Pastier, the rookie.
06:47Now high post Jones.
06:53Stewie against the Rook.
06:55All it falls down and Stewie takes advantage of it.
06:58It looked like Alba just got tripped up there in the scrum.
07:02Yeah, that is why.
07:03I mean, Brianna Stewart just looks like a point forward all the time.
07:06She's so comfortable making plays with the ball handling no matter where she is, splitting
07:10two defenders.
07:11No points in the paint, you see, for Seattle as of yet.
07:14In that first game, Seattle had 54 points in the paint.
07:19And there, kick at the two.
07:21I thought they had it there.
07:22It'll be Seattle basketball underneath.
07:23And it was really on the penetration points in the paint in that first game, not on that
07:26conventional post up by Awa.
07:28No, and I honestly, I would love to see more of that from Awa still at this point because
07:33we thought, you know, coming in as she was drafted from Spain, she was going to be kind
07:37of a pick and roll queen in the inside game.
07:39She's really developed the outside shot.
07:40That's been impressive.
07:41But I think in this second half-ish of the season, I'd love to see her inside and do some
07:45work in the paint.
07:46Like to be 60-plus percent in the paint.
07:49Seattle is 0 for 5 in the paint thus far today.
07:53And there's one right there.
07:54The first two of the game in the paint for the storm comes by the offensive rebound of
07:59Katie Liu.
08:04John-Quill Jones, you know she can stroke it and she hits it.
08:08John-Quill Jones from three.
08:11LJ second center all-time to someone named Lauren Jackson to make 400 threes in a season.
08:19She could pass LJ this season.
08:21She has only 29 threes behind Lauren Jackson as the all-time greatest three-point shooting
08:27center in WNBA history.
08:29It has been so impressive to see someone, her size and, I mean, her upbringing too, the
08:37way she's expanded her game once coming to America has been phenomenal.
08:41And a little more of a true center than Lauren.
08:43I always thought, yes, what position did Lauren play?
08:47I'd just say yes.
08:49She just placed that position.
08:51Whichever position.
08:52Kind of like Dom in a way.
08:53Like what position does Dom play?
08:54I don't know.
08:54Whatever you need her to put.
08:56Alyssa Thomas, not quite point guard, but Alyssa Thomas, but 6'5", Lauren Jackson, quite
09:01a difference there.
09:04One of the early contenders for a point center, you know?
09:07That's right.
09:13Jones with a whole speed.
09:14Centers can pass too.
09:16Feed to Brianna Stewart.
09:18Oh, just, they play beautiful basketball at Liberty View.
09:21They really, really do.
09:22This veteran team's played together for a long time.
09:26All right, I mean, talk about beautiful basketball, but Awa can't finish.
09:29Gets her own rebound, though.
09:30Kickback.
09:31Flaugé, three.
09:32No good.
09:33Not a lot of rotation on that triple.
09:34But another rebound, and Flaugé scores.
09:37So, sticking with it is Awa Fahm with a couple of offensive boards.
09:41And she has been really impressive as of late, leading the rookies in terms of rebounds per game.
09:49She's got a trio of triples, and it's 24 to 7.
09:55Somebody has to slow her down, make it impossible off the screen, get closer to her on those threes.
10:01This is the Sabrina Yunescu winner.
10:04Yep.
10:04There's the three, and that's the Natisha Heidemann we've come to know and love this year.
10:08There's no question about it.
10:10And we are seeing kind of the worrying trend, though.
10:12I mean, the Storm down 14 in the first quarter.
10:14They generally always come back, like they did against the Atlanta Dream.
10:18You know, down 12 in that first quarter, making the comeback.
10:22But you're asking a lot for your team to come back from that and try to win.
10:26He checked triple there, no good.
10:28You're right, it's been early deficits.
10:30They get back in it, maybe even take the lead.
10:32And then in clutch games in the end, just a play or two short.
10:36That's just kind of been the pattern for the Seattle Storm, particularly over the last month or so.
10:41Yeah, because they've been more of who they want to be in the past month.
10:45In the past 14 games, they're second in the WNBA in terms of pace.
10:49They want to be that fast-paced, get out in transition, get stops on defense, and be lightning quick.
10:55Like, use your speed and size and score that way.
10:59But the late game, it's like you're using so much energy to get to that point in the fourth quarter
11:04that it's going to run out at some point.
11:06And the youth, they've run into the youth, the turnovers against the veteran players.
11:11Well, one thing that Faster Pace has done, it's allowed more points.
11:14And if they allow 100 or more today, which they are definitely on pace to do right now,
11:19it'll tie for the most times Seattle has ever allowed 100 in the season with six.
11:25That was back in 2023.
11:27I call that the Jewel Lloyd season.
11:29Yeah.
11:31Yeah, Jewel Lloyd.
11:32But it is crazy that even with all the losses that season and this season,
11:36you feel much better about this season and where the team is going
11:40because there's so many stars that we're seeing on a night-to-night basis.
11:45And they're staying close in games, and they're not getting mad at each other.
11:48They're staying positive after games when it's frustrating.
11:50There's no doubt it is frustrating to lose those games,
11:53but they continue to fight and have fun together.
11:56I mean, just watching their videos on Instagram today,
11:58shoot around at Barley Parkley Center.
12:00They're having a ball, and they think they understand they've got to keep things light
12:05and intense at the same time.
12:06And very rarely have you seen an energy deficit with this storm.
12:10Yeah.
12:10Very rarely.
12:11There was a couple games in the middle of the season.
12:12You're like, wow, where did that come from?
12:14But most of the game, they have great energy for four quarters.
12:20There's Heideman on the push.
12:23Crossover dribble.
12:26Showtime from Metisha Heideman.
12:27Almost gets the hand one to go, and she'll go to the free throw line.
12:30She's been showing off a couple extra moves since the All-Star break.
12:35I'd say there was kind of like a behind-the-back sidestep three
12:39that she had on Kaitlin Clark against the Fever,
12:41and then kind of showed it off again against the Dream.
12:45Trying some new things.
12:48Got that AT&T blue hair.
12:50A little endorsement there with Courtney Williams.
12:54Hey, fans, if you're injured, find out what your case is worth.
12:56No fees unless they win.
12:58Bernard Law Group, big results are no accident.
13:01I'd keep that hair color.
13:02The way she's playing, I don't care if the endorsement ends or not.
13:05I mean, keep that hair color.
13:06It is working.
13:07Sure is.
13:08It's 33 for a career high against the Fever, then 23.
13:14Genescu, bowling ball on her way in.
13:17She is just playing with supreme confidence today.
13:20And you don't see Jordan Horstin get handled like that on defense.
13:25Genescu with 11 on four of five.
13:29Nice cut.
13:30Horstin, beautiful cut.
13:31She can't finish the layup right there, point blank.
13:34Seattle struggles and the paint continues.
13:36There's a bounce pass nearly picked off by Horstin the other way.
13:40I think last touch by Seattle should be New York basketball.
13:44As Genescu, thank goodness for Seattle, looks like she's heading out of the game.
13:49Great news for them because no one can slow her down, even one of the Storm's best defenders.
13:54That's when you just got to get in front and cut off.
13:56Easier said than done, right?
13:57Because Sabrina is strong and she's gotten stronger as she's recovered from those injuries throughout the season.
14:0311 of her teams, 26 as she hits the bench.
14:08Johanna sends the game for the first time.
14:09Rebecca Gardner in as well.
14:11Can't finish that one.
14:12Horstin the rebound.
14:15Seattle can cut a little more into this before the end of the quarter.
14:19Dolson in the game for Seattle.
14:21She'll get it on the touch pass and nice finish by Steph Dolson on a good feed from Jordan Horstin.
14:27And especially when the Liberty have two bigs and not really the most mobile bigs in the game
14:32with Honshu and Jones, take advantage of that pick and roll.
14:37Gardner thinks about it.
14:39Screened by Honshu.
14:40Off the mark.
14:48Cook, her first minute of the game for Seattle today, has got the basketball.
14:51Fires it up a little short.
14:53Thought it was tipped.
14:54At least she thought it was tipped.
14:55I thought it was.
14:56She's like, Cook missed by that match very often.
14:58And that one's up and in on Gardner rolling the other way.
15:03And not enough Storm players getting back in transition.
15:06Even that moment of protest kind of slowed by a cook down preventing that layup.
15:09That's the Storm offense from the last game.
15:11Like zero contestation on those drives.
15:15Straight to the rim.
15:17I think Jade has had a few open lanes where she can take it and at least get fouled
15:21because the Storm need to generate some more offense.
15:25Foul on Jordan Horstin with 29.8 left.
15:27Seattle at 32%.
15:30Two of six in three-point range.
15:32New York on fire.
15:3311 of 17 overall.
15:35Five of nine.
15:36Most of them the Sabrina Ionescu variety from triple.
15:43Jones does have a couple of herself, though.
15:47Bounce pass to Johannes.
15:48And it's the second time we've seen a pass thrown to absolutely nobody.
15:52I mean, I'd pass to Brianna Stewart even if she was sitting on the bench, too.
15:55Totally.
15:56I mean, there's a good chance something's going to happen.
16:01I was talking about before the game, that media game I was playing with the other day.
16:04I got to raise my hand.
16:05I did that in the media game.
16:06I drove in, kicked to somebody in a black shirt on the sideline.
16:10I was like, he was wide open.
16:11He's wide open, right?
16:12He was just watching the game.
16:13That's on him.
16:15I've got a lot of passes to Kasper in my day, too.
16:18And that ends the first quarter of play.
16:21A 10-point lead for the hot shooting.
16:24New York Liberty doing it from behind the arc.
16:27How about Jonquil Jones and Sabrina Ionescu and combined five of six from three-point range.
16:33But Seattle, 11-4 push to close.
16:37A red-hot shooting New York start.
16:40They got out to a 24-7 advantage.
16:42Three threes by Sabrina.
16:44Two by Jonquil Jones.
16:45But Seattle in the last 3.30 chopped into it with a nice little 11-4 push.
16:50Yeah, and Matisha Heidemann helping lead that.
16:52And I think the pick and roll started working.
16:54But the Storm have to continue attacking the paint and taking advantage of their quickness
16:58against some of these Liberty guards.
17:01I think you have to force them to play defense.
17:03And you're kind of playing into their hands if you're pulling back out.
17:06As we see Alicia Valvanas is in New York with the team.
17:09Love to see that.
17:10Why wouldn't you go on that trip, right?
17:13It's a good one.
17:14Two games, too.
17:15Back-to-back.
17:16They'll play on Wednesday again.
17:18And we got a timeout quickly on the floor.
17:21Just 14 seconds into the second quarter.
17:25Looks like we have a coach's challenge.
17:27They're challenging.
17:27It's an early challenge.
17:29It was an Eze Magbagor tip of a pass.
17:31It looked like pretty good D by Eze there.
17:34Maybe Eze fought for it a little bit.
17:37We'll take a quick timeout and come back and see if Eze won that battle.
17:41The challenge is a success.
17:43How about that?
17:43Sonya Rahman, 5-1 on out-of-bounds challenges.
17:48She is a little under 500 on foul challenges, but she's done very well on the out-of-bounds challenges.
17:55It's crazy the things we can track.
17:57I know.
17:58Out-of-bounds specifically challenges.
17:59Well, see, that's Craig Hamola.
18:01He's the greatest in the biz.
18:03True.
18:03He's got a – he literally has a spreadsheet of him on out-of-bounds challenges and foul challenges.
18:08That's why he's a Hall of Famer.
18:09That's right.
18:10Hall of Fame Husky.
18:14So, Seattle basketball.
18:17And I thought there was going to be kind of like an adamant, you know, put the circle over your
18:21head by Eze to say,
18:22Oh, I know she touched it.
18:23And we never even saw that.
18:25That was straight from the coaching staff.
18:27Three ball by Zia Cook.
18:28Oh, man.
18:29All that for an air ball three.
18:31So, New York basketball the other way.
18:35You want to create possessions if you're the strong.
18:37You need as many shots as you can get against a Liberty team that scores at the fifth highest rate
18:42in the league.
18:44Brunson works it around on Honshu.
18:46Now back to Brunson.
18:50Three ball, no good.
18:52Offensive rebound, Yanescu.
18:59Oh, no, the four-point play.
19:00So, we've seen so many three-point plays already for New York.
19:04Now we are going to get a four-point play.
19:07My goodness.
19:10And this is...
19:11Marine Fatouks for three.
19:14Fatouk coming up.
19:15Underneath the screen is Jordan Horstin.
19:18I mean, this is a young player in Fatouk.
19:22And she might have just changed the game plan right there with that hit.
19:27That one's off the mark.
19:29Good offensive rebound.
19:30Pushing Ezzie away is Jean-Quel Jones.
19:36Honshu.
19:37Quick catch and shoot.
19:39Everything's going down.
19:39Now, she can shoot, but that did not look like a rhythm three for her.
19:43No, Honshu.
19:44She is coming off a 17-point game.
19:46Everybody on this bench is feeling pretty good.
19:50They got a lot of contributions.
19:51And playing the sparks will make you feel pretty good on offense because they don't play a whole lot of
19:55defense.
19:57Snap it home.
19:58Steph Dolson.
19:59Love to see that.
20:03Steph already with five points in just a few minutes of action.
20:10Patouk's the rookie up top to Honshu.
20:14Already seven made threes in this game for New York.
20:18Patouk's driving in.
20:19Shot blocked by Steph Dolson.
20:22Here comes Jade the other way.
20:24See if she'll take it downhill.
20:25She does.
20:26Goes right to the window.
20:28Gardner with the reach.
20:29No foul.
20:30It'll be Seattle basketball.
20:33And both Honshu and Stewart getting quite a bit of rest from the end of the first quarter and did
20:38not start the second quarter.
20:42See how soon Coach DeMarco puts them in.
20:48So the second time already as he has gone to the bench.
20:52Now a bomb back in.
20:54Thinks about it.
20:55Fires it.
20:56Off the mark.
20:57Tipped around.
20:58Taken down by Patouk's.
20:59But right there is Katie Liu and Ziya Cook.
21:03The tight-up should be Katie Liu, I would think.
21:06She had both arms on that basketball.
21:10She'll get a little height advantage there for Katie Liu Sanderson.
21:19Patouk's the rookie from France.
21:21Had a career-high 13 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
21:24Loses that tip to the taller Katie Liu Sanderson.
21:27And a whistle.
21:29Maybe a shot clock reset.
21:36That would be my guess.
21:44And we have confirmation that is what it was.
21:56Colson dribble handoff and a big screen trying to free Awa up.
22:03Cook hesitates.
22:04Now explodes.
22:05Goes all the way in and scores.
22:07A couple more points in the paint for Seattle.
22:08They got off to a slow start for starting to pick it up there, getting to the rim recently.
22:13Yeah, 8 of 24.
22:14You needed that.
22:15That bucket can cure a lot because it didn't look like the offense was flowing.
22:19Some errant passes when players weren't expecting it.
22:21Ziya Cook just get to the bucket.
22:23I think over and over again, we can see that from their guards taking advantage.
22:28Double digits in the paint for Seattle after starting 0 of 5 in that category.
22:3234-20.
22:37Welcome back.
22:3834-23.
22:40A disturbing trend has continued for Seattle's defense in the first quarter.
22:45The last three games, 37-27-28 given up in the first quarter.
22:51But that defense does seem to get a lot better over quarters second, third, and fourth.
22:57And it has thus far in the first two and a half minutes of this one.
23:00And they get a miss there.
23:02Wafam with the rebound.
23:03You can almost point to the moment in each game where their defense just turns it on.
23:07The energy changes.
23:08They also turn the ball over less, so they're making life easier on their defense because
23:13if you're turning it over, the other team's running the other way with a head start.
23:16Deilu, the two-dribble pull-up.
23:17No good.
23:18We see Damalanga back into the game after a seven-minute run in the first quarter.
23:23Very balanced minutes for the Storm.
23:25She went deep into her bench.
23:27She did Sonia Rahman for a lot of minutes.
23:30Horstin and Dolson and Cook played a lot of minutes.
23:32And Stewart, I mean, Escu rested as well.
23:35They're good by Jonquilla.
23:36Rebound Hanshu.
23:40Jonquilla has not come out.
23:43She has been busy.
23:46Allen catching shoot three.
23:48That one's no good.
23:49Tipped around.
23:50And Awa comes up with the rebound for Fahm.
23:53Already five boards in this one.
23:55She's got all over the offensive glass.
23:57Dom keeps it high and can't get the finish, however.
24:00The long arms of Hanshu getting in her way.
24:04And there's not a lot of players in this league that can alter it.
24:08Dom Malanga's shot that close to the basket.
24:10But Hanshu probably one of them.
24:12Yeah.
24:12Several inches taller than Dominique Malanga.
24:14I believe 6-11.
24:16The only player, really, that's going to make life tough for the Dom reach.
24:21But the Storm got to get better inside the paint.
24:23Five of 14 from two in general.
24:26And five of 17.
24:27Just got to get easier looks.
24:28And I think with Blaget and Dom back in the game, it's going to help.
24:32You notice that Brianna Stewart travel on the inbounds pass.
24:36She's just like taking four steps before she inbounded the ball.
24:39It's like, Brianna, see, I'll didn't score there.
24:41You can't do that.
24:42Not a lot.
24:45But they get a basket out of it.
24:47Katie Liu, that one's tipped.
24:50No foul.
24:51And it's John Quell coming the other way.
24:54Good D by Dom, forcing the center to bring it up.
24:57Now she gives it off to Janescu.
25:02Crossover on Plaget, right to Natesha Heidemann.
25:05Here comes T on the push.
25:06Goes right at Fatouk's and lays it up and in.
25:09Natesha Heidemann.
25:10Another good start to this one.
25:14Great anticipation there by Natesha Heidemann.
25:16The Storm's sick of these back cuts.
25:18The limit we have gotten.
25:2211-point lead for New York.
25:27Latouche gets it back out.
25:30John Quell.
25:33Allen directing traffic.
25:34One on the shot clock.
25:35Got to get it up.
25:36And she does with a rainbow.
25:37And that hits nothing but the glass.
25:39It will be Seattle basketball.
25:40Good possession.
25:41Much better defensive possessions in this five minutes than we saw in the first ten minutes
25:46of this game.
25:46Yeah, Natesha Heidemann right here.
25:48No more backdoor for you, New York.
25:51Read it like a book.
25:52And no one stopped her.
25:54No one got in front of her.
25:55The lefty is going to go left when given the opportunity.
26:01And a quick twitch advantage here with Fatouche on her.
26:05Heidemann working her around.
26:07Getting it in to Dom.
26:08And low post action right there for Seattle.
26:11Remember, Seattle started 0 for 5 in the paint.
26:15And since then, they have scored 12 paint points.
26:17Such good things happen when you get stops on defense.
26:20The offense just feels better.
26:21You feel more confident in your game overall.
26:23And we know the identity of this Storm team is get stops on D, turn it into quick offense
26:28the other way.
26:32Dala Malanga inside there.
26:34Seattle's gotten it into single digits now.
26:38Continue to chop away.
26:39You'd love to see these slow starts cease.
26:43But you do love the fight in this team that they always have in the second and third quarters
26:46to get back into games.
26:52Dinescu drives in.
26:54Jean-Claude sets her feet, takes her time, and misses.
26:57No box out, however.
26:58Brianna Stewart gets the rebound.
27:00Back out.
27:01Allen.
27:02Driving in.
27:03Too strong.
27:05Tipped around.
27:06And Awafam gets it to a teammate.
27:11Good post-up position for Dom.
27:13The fadeaway.
27:14A little short.
27:18Stuey on the run.
27:19Poked from behind by Fahm into the hands of Ionescu.
27:23Stuey steps in.
27:24Fires and misses.
27:25So, New York's going cold.
27:27It's time for Seattle to take advantage.
27:29New York has really been chilly the last couple, three minutes.
27:32Heideman has not been chilly since, like, February.
27:35I mean, she has been absolutely unbelievable.
27:39And the confidence right there to step into the three.
27:42I mean, this lead is down to six.
27:44It was 17.
27:46But that can't happen.
27:47First easy buck in a while for New York there as Brianna scores.
27:51School of liberty, 38-30.
28:0012-4 push here by Seattle to cut it to eight.
28:05And Heideman with some sort of injury here.
28:07She gave the ball up and immediately either holding her side.
28:11We've seen her have some wrist issues.
28:13Let's see what happens here.
28:17What a collision.
28:18Yeah, looks maybe a elbow to the rib.
28:21Midsection there.
28:27Heideman's still in there, though.
28:28Tough as nails.
28:30Still holding that rib, though.
28:33Flauget.
28:33Pull up.
28:34Got it to go.
28:35That was much needed for Flauget, who was just one of five to that point.
28:38And within rhythm, took it slow.
28:41Didn't try to speed herself up too much.
28:43Just took a great shot.
28:45Momentum in the second quarter.
28:46Clearly with the storm.
28:54Astier, three-ball snap at home.
28:57She has had a really solid rookie season.
29:01Won a silver medal with Dom Malonka in the Olympics.
29:05And Stewie made that pretty much impossible to guard because she switched her screen angle.
29:10I'd have to see it again to see if it was legal.
29:11But she went from one angle to another and made the defender choose.
29:16Another long-range three that was tipped.
29:19There's been at least two, if not three, of those so far for Seattle.
29:23And a seal off by Jean-Claude Jones.
29:26So Dom could not get to it.
29:28And Stewie scores again.
29:30It's back up to 11.
29:31Transition defense.
29:32It means somebody didn't get back quick enough to guard Stewie.
29:38I'm calling for Flaugé.
29:40Who gets it?
29:42High post Malonka.
29:43Give and go.
29:44And a foul.
29:45Well done there by Seattle.
29:48Just simple basketball.
29:50But effective basketball right there with the give and go high post.
29:54They really are at their best with simple basketball because they're so quick.
29:58And this is, again, Flaugé being faster than her defender to help defense is too late.
30:04And the Storm actually have done a really good job not sending New York to the free-throw line.
30:08It's the best free-throw shooting team in the WNBA.
30:11They're one for two.
30:13That's something that was an emphasis.
30:14You saw it late in that Atlanta Dream game.
30:16The defense for the Storm just kept fouling the Dream and making things easier for them.
30:22Good for Flaugé to get to the rim.
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30:36Tail end of the second quarter here and a steal by Seattle.
30:39Can Flaugé convert?
30:41Yes, she can.
30:42And not only can she convert, she can rack up another foul on Brianna Stewart.
30:46That'll be her second.
30:49Points off turnovers for the Storm.
30:51It's becoming a motto for them.
30:55Really important is Flaugé Johnson, just her length, distracts Astier on defense, makes life tough.
31:03I mean, how good has she been defensively this entire season?
31:08Oftentimes asked to guard the best guard on the other team.
31:11And that's what they have to do, immediately turn it into offense.
31:14Well, she's going to be a multiple-time all-defensive team player in her career.
31:17Why not start now?
31:18Why not?
31:19Let's just get the voting going right now.
31:20Her rookie season, she does so many good things with the blocks and the steals.
31:24Now, this is, as good as New York is and as veteran as New York is, they've been sloppy this
31:29year.
31:29They are 12th in the league in turnovers.
31:33They have 15 a game and more turnovers than their opponents in all but eight games this season.
31:40So that has been a really weak point.
31:41And you want to talk about, okay, reasons why.
31:44There's a lot of reasons why they could win the championship.
31:46One of the reasons why they might not win the championship is the sloppy.
31:50Yeah, they've had so many changes within their starting lineup and their bench because in the offseason,
31:56when you saw Satu Sabali, who was a huge part in getting the Phoenix Mercury to the finals,
32:01decide to sign with the New York Liberty and free agency, you're like, oh boy, another monster team for the
32:06New York Liberty.
32:07They've got everything.
32:07But players have been in and out of the lineup.
32:09Satu Sabali hasn't played since early July because of a concussion.
32:13Sabrina Inescu had a lot of injuries early on.
32:15And honestly, they haven't played a ton of minutes together with the starting lineup they want.
32:20And so you've got to take advantage as you see Satu Sabali right there.
32:24A player capable of averaging, you know, 18 and 10, truly.
32:28Digging the hair.
32:29Yeah, she changed it up.
32:31She can pull it up any years now.
32:35Speaking of hair, Heidemann giving it off to Malanga.
32:38Spin move in the lane.
32:40Oh, gosh, that is pretty.
32:4220 years of age doing that against all-star caliber front course.
32:47Just gorgeous.
32:48And that's when she's at her best, when she's not rushing and she takes the time to finish above the
32:53defense.
32:54Can rescue the runner.
32:55She has done a little bit of everything tonight.
32:58My goodness, adding the runner to her array of tricks.
33:03Five of six.
33:04Thorne have to find an answer for her after the halftime break.
33:08Skip the jade.
33:10The drive baseline.
33:12Spin move.
33:13Extra pass.
33:14Beautiful basketball.
33:16And equals a three.
33:18And lookie here.
33:19It is a four-point game inside a minute left in the first.
33:24Gorgeous ball movement right there.
33:25That's passing up a good shot for the great shot.
33:35Stewie with it.
33:36Gives it off.
33:38Yonescu up 10 and scores.
33:40Okay.
33:41That's going to be number one conversation for the coaching staff at halftime is how to stop Yonescu.
33:46Yeah, you know when Stewie gives the ball up with the clock running now to Sabrina Inescu.
33:52Sabrina's having a hot game.
33:53And Heideman answers.
33:55Seattle now with 20 points in the paint.
33:57Remember, they were 0 for their first five.
33:58Did not have a paint point for the first seven minutes of the game.
34:01It's like that first Zia Cook bucket.
34:04Yes.
34:04When she got into that driving lane, it kind of made everybody else realize, oh, that is open.
34:10Seattle gave up 29 in the first.
34:13They've only given up 18 here in the second quarter.
34:16Two seconds left.
34:17Are they going to call a foul on that?
34:21Really?
34:22With 0.5 on the clock and 1.2 on the game clock.
34:27Is it on the screen?
34:29They look like they called it on Jade Melvin.
34:32Not on Ezzie for the shot.
34:35Or was it foul on the shooter?
34:37Wow.
34:44Boy, that is good defense right there.
34:54I believe Jade Melvin, I mean, she was called for that, but it's not in the shooting motion quite yet.
35:00That's a tough call for a tough break for the Storm.
35:14Boy, tough luck there for Seattle.
35:16My goodness, a four-point game.
35:18They have Brianna dead to rights, and they get bailed out.
35:23But still, a seven-point deficit.
35:26Remember, it was 24-7 New York in this one, and Seattle has chopped it down to a seven-point
35:33deficit.
35:33Do it.
35:35There's Leticia Hyden with 15 points on five of eight.
35:38Flaugier had a really nice second quarter.
35:41Four points there in the second.
35:42Ten points overall.
35:44Four of five.
35:44She's been getting to the free-throw line, which is, when Flaugier is at her best, she is getting to
35:49the free-throw line and not relying on the three-ball.
35:52Yeah, and it means continually going into contact.
35:56Because against the Dream, both of her made field goals, it was a tough game.
35:59She was two for 11.
36:00Both her made field goals were fadeaway jumpers.
36:02So, when Flaugier is at her best, she's attacking.
36:05She's relentless.
36:06She's unafraid to get inside.
36:08Ostier tries to get inside.
36:09Leaves it for Brianna Stewart.
36:11Easy as you please on the weak side for the layup.
36:16Stewie with 15.
36:17Tying Sabrina and Natisha Heidemann for game-high scores.
36:26Trying to get that ball to Dom at the high post frequently.
36:29It's been working out pretty well for Seattle.
36:31Longa with the quickness advantage over Hanshu.
36:35Yes, you're taller than I am, but I am quicker than you are.
36:38Love to see that out of a 20-year-old.
36:40Recognizing you've got the mismatch advantage.
36:42Take her to the rim.
36:46And against Ezzie, her former teammate of three years.
36:50To Hanshu, already hit one.
36:51That one's off.
36:52Great box out by Jade Melvin getting the rebound to Ezzie.
36:59Jet screen by Dom.
37:01Keep in the dribble is Natisha.
37:02Good post position.
37:04Malanga may have been rejected.
37:10Ostier to the 10.
37:11No good.
37:12Malanga snatches it down.
37:14You see Seattle continuing to try to get the ball into Dom.
37:17The matchup is in her favor against Hanshu.
37:26Flosje dribbled back.
37:27Tough pull-up.
37:28And sticks it.
37:30Flosje Johnson.
37:31Talk about how difficult a shot that is.
37:34She's going full speed, right?
37:37And to stop with two feet right at the...
37:40Just incredible to be able to pop like that.
37:43Someone who knows about making tough shots.
37:45Sabrina Inescu.
37:47But Flosje also gets off the ground.
37:49Yeah.
37:50Remarkably well.
37:51I mean, high and quickly.
37:52She's got a really nice burt to shoot above other guards.
37:57Iteman steps back three.
37:59Retreating like it's going in.
38:00But that one's off the rim.
38:05Brianna going right at Ezzie.
38:07Kick back three.
38:09Rebecca Allen.
38:10No.
38:11No white jerseys in there for a box out.
38:13But there's Flosje to tip it.
38:15Should be off Sabrina's foot.
38:16And it is.
38:17Great defense by the rook.
38:18Yeah.
38:19She just turned a negative into a positive for her team.
38:22Because several players did not box out right there.
38:24And Flosje with the aggression.
38:27Reading.
38:28Hanshu's eyes.
38:30I mean, almost could have gone the other way if it didn't hit a foot.
38:34So 8th turnover the game.
38:35Seattle really leading in that category.
38:38Points off turnovers.
38:40Seattle with 9 points off turnovers.
38:43Only 2 points for New York.
38:45Got miscues by Seattle.
38:46And uh-oh.
38:47Who's warming up?
38:47It's Flosje Johnson.
38:48And she feels it.
38:49She's kind of skipping a little bit.
38:51She's giving the okay.
38:52Here we go.
38:57These are the types of games that Flosje ends up with like 25.
39:01John Quell the answer.
39:03New York has had an answer.
39:05Last two possessions on Flosje jumpers.
39:08Yeah.
39:08We love to see Flosje get aggressive.
39:10This storm.
39:11It's a pretty good matchup for them.
39:12Because the Liberty do not like to turn teams over.
39:14They're 14th in steals.
39:16And what have been the storm.
39:17What has been the storm's problem late in games.
39:20Well, it's turning the ball over.
39:21So this is not a team that's going to make you uncomfortable.
39:24When you get shots like this one from Flosje Johnson.
39:27You got to knock it down.
39:28And she's feeling confident.
39:30Sabrina Inescu going under the screen.
39:32We talk about the disrespect players feel.
39:35Well, she is shooting 27% from three right now.
39:38So that probably is the game plan.
39:39But Flosje, make them pay.
39:42First one rattles home.
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39:57Longa in double figures.
39:58Now with 11 with the two free throws.
40:03Three storm players in double figures.
40:06Flosje and Neteisha with 15.
40:08Dom with 11.
40:09Three New York players in double figures.
40:11How this was the one who deserves?"
40:11Let's go.
40:12Let's do it.
40:12Продолжение следует...
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