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.
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tRY IT NOWWho 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.
The Liberty knew it would take time to find their groove this season considering the team has a new coaching staff, new system and new players. Starting the season shorthanded doesn’t help New York’s case either.
Carla Leite #0 of the Portland Fire shoots the ball during the game against the New York Liberty. NBAE via Getty Images
But Breanna Stewart said she didn’t expect the season to start this way.
Monday was a reality check for the Liberty.
“It’s a learning experience for everyone,” Stewart said. “My message for the players in the locker room is nobody expected this and not to say we thought it was going to be easy because we definitely didn’t, but it’s going to take time. And there’s going to be highs and lows and while it seems like we’re in the lows right now, eventually we’ll get to a place where everybody’s really confident and comfortable in what’s going on.
Pauline Astier #18 of the New York Liberty dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Fire. NBAE via Getty Images“Listen, I’m happy it’s happening early and not late. And I know we did a lot of wrong things tonight but I thought that our fight and effort was definitely better than what it was last night for sure.”
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.
Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Fire. NBAE via Getty ImagesSabrina 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.
Breanna 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. They couldn’t put together a full 40-minute effort.
“There’s growing pains in the sense of we’ve got people coming in and out,” said Rebecca Allen, a member of the 2022 team that started the season 1-7. “I want us to have some grace. Today, we played harder in so many ways but it’s yeah, finding that gelling, that cohesion, offensively and defensively, and I feel like there’s so many moments where we’re lacking. We’re needing to get 40 minutes of that. Really, our fourth quarter today just — it wasn’t good enough with how many points they scored. Our turnovers, that’s a real problem. Them getting offensive rebounds, that’s an issue as well, so… some of these things are real effort things, so we just need to lift our effort plays.”
Monday was not pretty basketball.
iberty guard Marine Johannes (23) shoots over Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton (6) during the second half at the Barclays Center. Monday, May 25, 2026 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Noah K. Murray-NY PostThe 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.
Eventually the missing stars will return, the rotations will normalize and New York’s depth will stabilize. But to start a rare seven-game homestand with three consecutive losses isn’t the tone the Liberty wanted to set.
New York returns to action Wednesday against the reeling Phoenix Mercury.
