Come As You Are Sports

SEATTLE STORM, WNBA, WOMEN’S SPORTS

Liberty Defeat Storm in Seattle as Breanna Stewart Clinches Playoff Berth for New York

Storm Playoff Hopes on the Brink After Costly Loss Late in Season.

Caroline Anne

September 6, 2025

1–2 minutes

SEATTLE STORM, WNBA

September 5, 2025 — Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA

It was a night of high emotion and playoff implications at Climate Pledge Arena as the Seattle Storm hosted the New York Liberty in a pivotal late-season matchup. Former Storm superstar and two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart made her return to Seattle, receiving warm hugs and smiles from former teammates before tip-off. But once the game began, it was all business—and Stewart delivered.

Stewart poured in 24 points, leading the Liberty to an 84-76 victory that snapped their five-game road losing streak. The win not only solidified New York’s place in the postseason but also elevated the Liberty (25-17) to the fifth seed in the WNBA playoff bracket. Stewart only missed one of her 14 free throw attempts.

The loss was a setback for the Storm, who momentarily held control with a 9-point lead at one point over the Liberty, ending the first half 47 points to New York’s 30.

Nneka Ogwumike led Seattle with 20 points, and Skylar Diggins‘ 7 assists were the key highlights of the game, but the team struggled to maintain momentum in the second half. The defeat drops the Storm to eighth place in the standings, putting their playoff hopes in a precarious position.

With just one game left on their regular-season schedule, the Storm will have three crucial days to rest and regroup before their final home game on Tuesday, September 9, against the Golden State Valkyries who have already punched their ticket to the playoffs. Every possession will count as the team fights to hold onto their playoff spot. Storm fans will be watching the standings closely.

The Los Angeles Sparks, who trail Seattle by just two points, still have three games remaining. A strong finish from L.A. could potentially knock the Storm out of playoff contention, raising the stakes even higher for Tuesday’s finale. As the regular season draws to a dramatic close, Seattle faces a must-win scenario—and they’ll need the full support of the home crowd to get there.