> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Instant Takeaways: Storm’s Dominant Third Quarter Sinks Liberty in Statement Win - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/storms-dominant-third-quarter-sinks-liberty-statement-win/ - Published: 2025-07-06T20:43:08.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:19:29.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Storm, Dominique Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Skylar Diggins, Ezi Magbegor \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3072"\] ![ The Seattle Storm outscored the New York Liberty by 16 points in the third period en route to a 79-70 win over another one of the WNBA’s top teams. Credit: John Mac ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/53729564387_c2e0f7a7cf_3k-format-original-2.jpg) The Seattle Storm outscored the New York Liberty by 16 points in the third period en route to a 79-70 win over another one of the WNBA’s top teams. Credit: John Mac \[/caption\] The Seattle Storm used a dominant third-quarter surge and defensive effort to fuel a 79-70 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday, July 6, at the Barclays Center. It was the Storm’s second straight win, moving to 9-3 in their last 12 games. Seattle got at least 11 points from five different players, taking control of the game in the third quarter and never relinquishing its advantage from there. The Storm held a once-hot Sabrina Ionescu to just two points in the second half, making life hard on every possession for the Liberty offense with their rapid switches and stiff interior defense. Here’s what we learned from Seattle’s win over New York on Sunday. ### **Sabrina Ionescu dominates until Storm defense takes over** After not being able to play in the Liberty’s loss to the Storm on June 22, Sabrina Ionescu came out with a vengeance on Sunday. No play was more emblematic of her dominant early performance than a four-point play just before the halftime buzzer — over Nneka Ogwumike’s outstretched hand — from deep beyond the 3-point arc. That pushed her to 20 points in the first half alone. Ionescu single-handedly kept New York in front, drilling five triples in the first half on just six attempts. But then she disappeared, as Storm head coach Noelle Quinn adjusted the defense to remove her from the game. It worked to perfection, exhausting Ionescu as she tried to hoist up contested shots. Seattle began the second half with a 15-2 run, seizing a quick 10-point lead after heading to the locker room with a three-point deficit. The Storm defense made life difficult for the Liberty the entire quarter with seamless defensive rotations that held them out of the paint and closed out on shooters. The Storm outscored the Liberty 22-6 in the period while New York converted just 3 of 21 shots in the period (14.3 percent). Seattle’s lead ballooned to 19 in the fourth quarter, but a late surge by the Liberty bench after most starters were pulled from the game brought the final margin down. ### **Dominique Malonga’s gaudy minutes** Rookie No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga kicked off her impressive night by hitting a third-quarter buzzer-beater a few feet away from the hoop — Seattle’s second of the night after Williams drilled one of the halftime horn. In her first five minutes on the court, Malonga had already piled up 11 points, sinking all five of her shot attempts, while pulling down seven rebounds. It was by far the most dominant the 19-year-old has looked in a single stretch as she continues to look more and more confident on the court. However, despite her strong play, Malonga was pulled off the court shortly after the start of the fourth quarter, finishing with 10 minutes in the game. Center Ezi Magbegor finished with 14 points — her top offensive performance of the season — and five rebounds. To her credit, it was by far the most aggressive Magbegor had been on offense all season, which resulted in her getting eight attempts at the free throw line (six makes). With a substantial lead, what harm could come by continuing to let Malonga build confidence and accrue more experience against one of the league’s top post players like Breanna Stewart? Magbegor had two rebounds in her first 24 minutes on the court and hasn’t had more than six boards in five straight games. Magbegor’s defensive presence is critical to the team, but a more even split seems in order. ### **Balanced offense takes pressure off stars** New York struggled to generate offense with Stewart struggling (8 points) and Ionescu’s production falling off a cliff in the second half. The opposite was true for Seattle, as five players scored double-digit points. Williams led all scorers with 16 points, while Ogwumike dropped in 15\. After Magbegor’s 14, Diggins added 13 with a team-high six assists. The Storm hit their magic number of 21 assists on the dot, moving to 11-0 this season when reaching that figure. They are 1-7 when falling short of that mark. Seattle looked as connected offensively as it has all season in the second half. ### **All-Star Storm** The Storm will have three total All-Stars — tied for most in the league — after point guard Skylar Diggins and wing Gabby Williams were named reserves on Sunday morning. It’s the first nod of Williams’ career, as she’s played in every game this season (18) after playing in a combined 22 contests the past two seasons. Williams leads the league with 50 steals and entered the game on Sunday averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.6 steals in 33.7 minutes per game. She’s been all-around one of the top defenders in the league this season and is among the top candidates to also win Defensive Player of the Year. Diggins, the engine that has driven the Storm this season, earned her seventh All-Star nod in her 11th WNBA season. It’s also her first since 2022, her final season with the Phoenix Mercury. In 32.7 minutes per game this season, Diggins is averaging 18.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks. Diggins’ energy and timely heroics have been huge for the Storm this season. ### **Up next** Seattle moved to 12-7 on the season, keeping pace in the logjam at the top of the league — below the 16-2 Minnesota Lynx — with the Phoenix Mercury (12-6) and Liberty (12-6). New York continues its brutal skid, winning just three of its last nine games after beginning 9-0. The Storm conclude a four-game road trip when they visit the Connecticut Sun (2-15) at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9.