There’s no excuse for what transpired in the fourth quarter of Monday’s 81-74 loss to the Portland Fire.
The Liberty committed four turnovers in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. Their 10-point lead dwindled to one multiple times before the Fire took over with 3:36 left and never looked back.
Who knew Sarah Ashlee Barker, of all players, could be such a Liberty slayer?
She scored all seven of her points in the fourth quarter and sealed the game by intercepting Breanna Stewart’s Hail Mary.
The Liberty suffered their third consecutive loss, falling to 3-4 on the season. This is New York’s worst start to a season since 2022, Sandy Brondello’s first season.
New York committed seven of its 19 turnovers in the fourth quarter and was outscored 32-17.
For most of this season, the Liberty have looked more like a patchwork team than a championship contender.
Monday — the second night of a back-to-back — was no different.
Sabrina Ionescu was ruled out an hour before tipoff for left foot injury management. Leonie Fiebich (rest) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (personal reasons) were also unavailable.
Satou Sabally started the game but checked out after four minutes and was ruled out after halftime due to illness.
Stewart stepped up. She put her body on the line, finishing with 25 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and a block. But her efforts weren’t enough.
Because once again, the Liberty collapsed in the second half.
This was not pretty basketball. It wasn’t polished or smooth or particularly deep.
The Liberty had their moments. Marine Johannès made some splashy 3s and an impressive no-look, behind-the-head dime to Jonquel Jones, who got the and-1 layup.
At times, the offense stalled completely, and the Fire’s ball pressure stifled New York. At others, the Liberty’s defense looked on the brink of collapse.
Jones notched her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
But the Liberty’s streak of 34 consecutive regular-season wins when Jones had a double-double came to an end Monday.
The Liberty walked out with a loss that perhaps stung more since a win was so attainable.
