Liberty vs Storm predictions
When you look at the New York Liberty, all eyes instantly land on Breanna Stewart, and for good reason—she’s been putting up some insane numbers lately. Fresh off a 35-point explosion, it’s fair to expect she’ll come out firing against her former team in Seattle. With Jonquel Jones sidelined, Stewart’s role as the main scoring option and presence on the boards becomes even more critical. I’d also keep an eye on Natasha Cloud’s playmaking; she’s been racking up assists and should thrive against the Storm’s backcourt defense, creating plenty of scoring opportunities for her teammates. If Stewart gets hot early, and Cloud keeps the offense humming, New York could get out in front quickly and set the tone.
Shifting over to the Seattle Storm, you’ve got Skylar Diggins-Smith running the show and putting up nearly 20 a night, which makes for a pretty interesting matchup against Cloud and the Liberty guards. Diggins-Smith is at her best when she’s breaking down defenses and getting to the rim, so don’t be surprised if she looks to draw contact and live at the line. Nneka Ogwumike quietly remains the rebounding anchor, and her matchup inside grows in importance with Jones out for New York. If Ogwumike can patrol the paint and keep Stewart’s second-chance points in check, Seattle’s chances of keeping the game close certainly go up. The real X-factor, though, might just be Seattle’s home crowd at Climate Pledge Arena—they know how to bring the energy.
Putting it all together, this one feels like it’s going to be a battle that swings back and forth, especially considering how close these squads are on paper. The Liberty have been rolling lately, and even with Jones out, their offensive firepower and tight defensive rotations give them a slight edge. That said, you can never count out the Storm, especially on their home floor where they’ve already picked up some impressive wins. End of the day, though, my gut says New York finds a way to grind out a tough one on the road—likely with Stewart leading the charge yet again. What do you think? Would you ride with the hot hand or give the edge to the Storm at home?
