SEATTLE — Two days after taking down the defending champion Aces in Las Vegas, the Liberty laid an egg here. 

New York was down two starters, with Satou Sabally in concussion protocol and Breanna Stewart out for rest.

But there was no reason that the Liberty couldn’t handle the rebuilding Storm. 

Instead, Seattle took control early and never allowed the Liberty back in en route to winning 99-88. 

New York got within four points of the Storm in the second half, but that was it. 

Former Liberty assistant Sonia Raman, whom the franchise considered for its head coaching vacancy in the offseason, picked up a win against her former team. 

The question has to be asked: How can a team as stacked as New York beat a team like the Aces so mightily yet lose to bottom-tier teams like the Fire, Mystics, Sparks and now the Storm? 

“When we have two starters out, I don’t think we should ever be complacent anyways. We go into every game just looking at that game, not where somebody is in the standings,” head coach Chris DeMarco said pregame. “[Thursday’s game is] important, and we have some — not some — we have a lot of depth, and this is why. When players are out, other players can step up, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.” 

But the depth didn’t provide the boost it normally does. 

Perhaps the Liberty have a focus and effort problem. 

Thursday’s game was littered with mistakes on both ends of the floor. Miscommunication led to easy layups for the Storm. Turnovers or poor shot selection allowed Seattle to get out in transition. 

The Liberty’s 16 turnovers turned into 15 points for Seattle, which scored 21 of its points on fast-break opportunities. 

The Storm are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. And yet, they outrebounded the Liberty 39-28. 

The Storm entered Thursday averaging a league-low 78.8 points per game. Thursday’s 99 points were the most they’ve scored in regulation this season. 

All five of the Storm starters finished in double-digit scoring, including rookie Flau’jae Johnson, who recorded a career- and game-high 28 points. Second-year center Dominique Malonga had 20 points and 10 rebounds. 

Meanwhile, Jonquel Jones was the Liberty’s most impactful player. She finished with 26 points and eight rebounds. Leonie Fiebich added 19 points. 

The Liberty are scheduled to wrap up this four-game West Coast trip this weekend when DeMarco returns to his old stomping grounds in San Francisco, where they face the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday before returning to Barclays Center to host the Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup final.