Scheduled Tip‑Off: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center — Brooklyn, New York
Team Form & Context
Seattle Storm (6–25)
Seattle enters Monday’s matchup in the midst of a rebuilding season, owning the league’s worst record and struggling to generate consistent offense. The Storm have dropped nine of their last ten, with injuries, roster turnover, and defensive lapses contributing to their slide. Jewell Loyd remains the team’s primary scoring option, while Nneka Ogwumike’s veteran presence has helped stabilize the frontcourt. Seattle’s biggest challenge has been offensive efficiency — they rank last in field‑goal percentage and bottom‑three in turnovers. Their defense has also struggled against elite perimeter teams, a concerning trend against New York’s guard‑heavy attack.
New York Liberty (17–13)
New York enters the contest fighting for playoff positioning in a crowded Eastern Conference race. The Liberty have won five of their last seven, powered by Sabrina Ionescu’s playmaking, Breanna Stewart’s two‑way dominance, and Betnijah Laney’s perimeter scoring. Jonquel Jones continues to anchor the interior, giving New York one of the league’s most balanced starting units. The Liberty remain one of the WNBA’s most efficient offensive teams, ranking top‑five in three‑point shooting and assist rate. Their defense has tightened recently, holding opponents under 80 points in four of their last six games.
Injury Reports
Seattle Storm
Nneka Ogwumike — Probable (ankle)
Mercedes Russell — Out (foot)
Jordan Horston — Day‑to‑day (shoulder)
Ezi Magbegor — Out (knee)
New York Liberty
Breanna Stewart — Probable (hip tightness)
Courtney Vandersloot — Day‑to‑day (illness)
Nyara Sabally — Out (knee)
Key Player Matchups
Breanna Stewart (NYL) vs. Nneka Ogwumike (SEA)
Stewart is averaging 21.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and remains one of the league’s most dominant two‑way players.
Ogwumike’s physicality and midrange game give her a chance to compete, but Stewart’s length and versatility create a significant matchup advantage.
Expect New York to run early sets through Stewart to exploit Seattle’s thin frontcourt.
Sabrina Ionescu (NYL) vs. Jewell Loyd (SEA)
Ionescu’s playmaking and deep shooting stretch defenses.
Loyd remains Seattle’s top scorer, averaging 18.7 PPG, but she faces a difficult assignment defending Ionescu’s off‑ball movement.
This matchup determines Seattle’s ability to stay competitive in the backcourt.
Jonquel Jones (NYL) vs. Seattle Interior Rotation
Jones’ rebounding and rim protection are major advantages against a Storm team missing Magbegor and Russell.
Expect Jones to dominate second‑chance opportunities and interior scoring.
Betnijah Laney (NYL) vs. Jordan Horston (SEA)
Laney’s physicality and midrange scoring have been crucial for New York.
Horston’s length and athleticism give her defensive upside, but her shoulder injury may limit minutes.
If Horston is restricted, Laney could have a high‑efficiency night.
Recent Team Trends
Seattle
Last 10 Games: 1–9
Road Record: 2–13
Offensive Rating (last 5): 94.2
Defensive Rating (last 5): 108.7
Trend: Struggling on both ends; injuries compounding issues
New York
Last 10 Games: 6–4
Home Record: 9–5
Offensive Rating (last 5): 107.4
Defensive Rating (last 5): 101.1
Trend: Offense efficient; defense improving
Series History
2026 Season Series: Liberty lead 1–0
2025 Season Series: Liberty won 3–0
Last 10 Meetings: Liberty lead 8–2
At Barclays Center (last 5): Liberty lead 4–1
New York has dominated the matchup over the past two seasons, with Seattle struggling to contain the Liberty’s perimeter shooting.
Betting Trends
Seattle
Storm are 2–8 ATS in their last 10
UNDER has hit in 6 of their last 9
Seattle is 1–7 SU in their last eight road games
New York
Liberty are 7–3 SU in their last 10
OVER has hit in 5 of their last 7
New York is 6–1 ATS in their last seven home games vs. sub‑.500 teams
Preview Summary
New York enters Monday’s matchup with momentum and a clear advantage across nearly every positional matchup. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones should control the interior, while Sabrina Ionescu’s playmaking threatens to overwhelm Seattle’s thin backcourt. The Storm will rely heavily on Jewell Loyd and Nneka Ogwumike to keep the game competitive, but injuries and depth issues present significant challenges.
GAME ODDS
Seattle Storm 181.5
New York Liberty – 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, August 2, 2026
