Liberty hanging on to playoff slot after slim home loss to Sparks
Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins directs his players during a timeout in the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm at Barclays Center on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Tropical Storm Henri blew into the area, leaving the Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks to play Sunday’s matinee in relative privacy at Barclays Center. There were no fans or reporters allowed, just a TV audience after Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency.
The Liberty’s playoff push wasn’t helped after a hideous fourth quarter marred by 1-for-9 shooting and 10 of their 25 turnovers. They suffered an 86-83 setback despite having an 11-point lead late in the third, making a franchise-record 16 three-pointers and getting 17 points and 11 rebounds from Natasha Howard.
"We didn’t trust each other," coach Walt Hopkins said tersely via Zoom.
There also was a big loss within this loss. Sami Whitcomb, the league leader in made three-pointers, sprained her left ankle and will get an MRI. Whitcomb, who had five threes and 17 points, was helped off with 2:12 left and the Liberty down four.
"Sami is obviously a big part of our team," Rebecca Allen said after her 15-point effort on five threes. "She needs to focus on her health and getting it right. But it didn’t happen at a good moment for us at all."
The Liberty, 11-14 with seven games left, remain in seventh place. Eight teams will make the postseason, but they’ve lost five of six and are percentage points ahead of eighth-place Los Angeles (10-13), which has won four straight, and a half-game ahead of ninth-place Dallas (10-14).
"We’re in a position where we can still control our own destiny, which is really nice," Hopkins said before the game.
The Liberty trailed 32-23 in the second quarter, then went on a 22-6 run for a 45-38 lead at the break.The Liberty led 72-61 with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter but were outscored 20-11 in the fourth.
"I think there are moments we have to be stronger," Allen said. "That’s mentally. That’s physically."
Next up: Phoenix on Wednesday and Friday at Barclays.
"We’ve got to make sure we’re locked in," Howard said, "and throw this game right here away behind us and start focusing on Phoenix."
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