Syosset's Bird leads Storm past Liberty

All her career, Sue Bird has made a name for herself providing the proverbial dagger in big-game situations.

The Syosset product has done it time and time again in her nine-year career with the Seattle Storm. She did it as a two-time national champion at Connecticut. She did it more than a decade ago at Christ the King High School in Queens.

In her latest return home Friday in Seattle's 92-84 victory over the Liberty at Madison Square Garden, Bird had a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter to help push the Storm's WNBA-best record to 10-2.

With 6:08 left in the third quarter, Bird got out of a funk with a three-pointer to increase the Storm lead to 46-41. But the Liberty (4-6) came back with a 9-0 run to take a 50-46 lead. Bird's response at the end of the third, with the Liberty leading 63-62: a stroll to the sideline, a kick to the bench and two words to teammate Tanisha Wright: "I'm sorry."

After that, Bird had little to apologize for. Said the 5-9 guard, "It got to the point where, for the first time in my career, I had a size advantage [over Liberty point guard Leilani Mitchell, who is 5-5]."

Mitchell drew the Liberty within 82-79 on a three-pointer with 1:39 left, but Bird responded with a floater to make it 84-79. The Liberty's Cappie Pondexter, who had 24 points, hit a jumper with a minute left and Bird sank a jumper with 39 seconds to go.

Pondexter hit a three-pointer with 33 seconds left to get the Liberty within 86-84, but Wright hit two free throws with 25 seconds left. When Pondexter missed a three with 20 seconds left, Bird corralled the rebound, was fouled and hit two free throws for a 90-84 lead.

Lauren Jackson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Wright scored 18 points and Swin Cash had 16 for the Storm.

Mitchell had 13 points, Taj McWilliams-Franklin - who played through a bruised rotator cuff - scored 11 and Plenette Pierson had 10 in her Liberty debut.