One of the worst home streaks in team history came to a resounding end Sunday night when the Storm, nearing full strength, dominated the New York Liberty 84-66 at KeyArena.
Playing for the first time with all 11 players, including Ann Wauters and Tina Thompson returning from injuries, the Storm ended a skid that reached three in a row against a New York team (9-15) playing its fifth road game in nine days, and second in two nights.
The Storm (11-13) was up 19 after one, led 51-30 at halftime and had a lead up to 29 in the third quarter.
Sue Bird looked close to top form with 18 points, 10 assists and a single turnover. Her fellow Olympian, Lauren Jackson, looked a little better with 16 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes, although she missed seven of 10 shots, including five of six from behind the arc. Camille Little had 15 points and eight rebounds.
Cappy Pondexter led the Liberty with 23 points.
Wauters (Achilles tear) and Thompson (knee sprain) returned to action off the bench in limited minutes. Wauters missed two months and nine games, but managed nine points in her return.
The blowout helped take some sting out the previous game, a 68-66 defeat to Indiana in which the Storm blew an 11-point lead in the final 2:44.
The Storm play the final two of its string of seven home games in a row against the two worst teams (each 4-19) in the West, starting with Phoenix Thursday, then Tulsa Sept. 6.
