Three minutes into extra time in Recreation 1 of a first-round playoff collection towards the Phoenix Mercury, the New York Liberty gathered round their star Breanna Stewart, who lay on the court docket grabbing at her left knee.
Stewart tried the free throw awarded on the play that led to her damage, missed it, and left the sport for good shortly afterwards. She seemed to be preventing again tears as she watched her group eke out a 76-69 win.
Stewart had 18 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists within the tight, albeit sloppy, postseason sport, which was performed in Phoenix. There isn’t any replace on her well being presently.
“We solely simply received again to the locker room. I am certain she’ll be evaluated quickly,” New York coach Sandy Brondello informed reporters after the sport. With the brand new playoff format, each New York and Phoenix will head to Brooklyn for Recreation 2 Wednesday night time.
“She requested me to sub her on the market, and she or he regarded uncomfortable, in order that was the explanation we took her out … we’re simply hoping that she’ll be okay.”
A critical damage to Stewart may cease New York’s postseason run earlier than it even will get began.
The postseason was imagined to be a reset, an opportunity to wipe the slate clear. “As soon as the playoffs come, it is only a new season,” New York guard Sabrina Ionescu mentioned within the latest episode of Liberty Unlocked, the group’s all-access collection.
As a substitute, Recreation 1 featured psychological errors and an damage to a key participant.
Breanna Stewart damage: Liberty star (knee) leaves Recreation 1 vs. Mercury in extra time, will likely be evaluated ‘quickly’
Jack Maloney
A tumultuous season
The season hasn’t gone as anticipated for the New York Liberty. After a sizzling begin, accidents compelled the Liberty to make use of greater than 15 completely different beginning lineups in a 44-game season.
Stewart missed 13 video games in the course of the common season with a proper knee bone bruise. The Liberty went 5-8 with out her. The group was additionally with out the providers of 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones for 13 video games, Sixth Participant of the 12 months candidate Kennedy Burke for eight video games and Nyara Sabally, who performed an important position within the Recreation 5 extra time basic that sealed the 2024 WNBA championship for the Liberty, for 27 video games. Fellow German Olympian Leonie Fiebich additionally missed seven video games.
One could also be tempted guilty all of the 2025 woes on accidents. Nonetheless, to take action would foolishly overlook that New York averaged 13.8 turnovers per sport all through the common season. The Liberty additionally led the league in offensive rebounds (9.7) allowed per sport, and gave up a median of 14.8 factors off turnovers.
The Liberty gave Phoenix 15 factors off 21 turnovers on Sunday.
Because the Liberty fell to the fifth seed within the playoffs, they’re unlikely to have dwelling court docket benefit all through the playoffs. New York went 10-12 in away video games in the course of the common season.
Everybody must step up
Phoenix practically doubled the Liberty in free throw makes an attempt. All however one in all New York’s 9 makes an attempt got here from Stewart and group scoring chief Natasha Cloud (23 factors), who carried the group within the bodily, low-scoring sport,
If Stewart is out on Wednesday, one in all her teammates should step up. Jones, who Phoenix held to seven factors Sunday, is the prime candidate. Jones was aggressive on the boards, however might want to give the Liberty extra offense in the event that they hope to clinch the collection in entrance of their dwelling crowd. The defending champions are a gaudy 33-0 over the previous three years when Jones tallies a double-double within the common season.
“I simply need to have the ability to be capable of shield the rim after which, you understand, use my rebounding to have the ability to assist us shut our possessions and in the end win,” Jones mentioned after Sunday’s sport. She understands the physicality will solely enhance because the playoffs proceed.
“You get remedy, you perceive that that is simply the character of the playoffs, that physicality is simply how it’ll be. It may be actually turned up from one other stage, from the common season,” Jones mentioned.
2025 WNBA playoffs winners and losers: Lynx, Aces rating big wins; Liberty lose Breanna Stewart to damage
Jack Maloney
“I feel expertise sort of helps us out in that side as nicely, as a result of we’re used to it. We understood, or perceive, what it took final 12 months to have the ability to go to distance. So yeah, that is simply the character of the playoffs,” she added.
Sabrina Ionescu had 16 factors, seven assists, and 6 rebounds on the night time, and Leonie Fiebich added 10 factors — together with an enormous extra time shot from exterior the arc to safe the win. Perimeter taking pictures may determine the winner of this collection.
“We’re as nice of a 3-point taking pictures group as are they. That is the place it got here right down to. We made a couple of greater than them. And Leonie Fiebich, none larger than that 3 in extra time,” Brondello mentioned. New York and Phoenix took 419 and 414 three-pointers this seasons, respectively.
“Yeah, it was big. You understand, it is humorous. I used to be — you understand she had missed some early on, and I knew she was going to hit the most important one of many night time. It is simply what she does,” Ionescu mentioned about Fiebich postgame.
The Liberty’s bench solely scored two factors.
What’s subsequent
Profitable Recreation 1 ideas the scales for New York, who went 17-5 at Barclays Heart this season.
“We’ve got the benefit. We received an away sport and we received on their dwelling court docket. Now the benefit is for us to deal with it. And this, such as you mentioned, it’s an skilled group. We have been right here earlier than, and we all know what our purpose is, and you understand, we need to maintain taking part in,” Brondello mentioned.
If the Liberty lose on Wednesday, the collection heads again to Phoenix for Recreation 3. The Mercury are searching for their first postseason win since 2021, when then-Mercury head coach Brondello led a fifth-seeded Phoenix squad to the WNBA Finals. The winner of this collection will face the winner of the Minnesota Lynx and Golden State Valkyries within the the semifinals.
Earlier than the playoffs started, Stewart expressed optimism on the newest Liberty Unlocked episode in regards to the group’s quest for a title protection.
“We have not peaked but and that is what’s like, essentially the most thrilling half about it, is we nonetheless have not performed our greatest,” Stewart mentioned within the episode whereas sitting beneath a statue of former teammate and 2025 Naismith Corridor of Famer Sue Fowl in Seattle.
“All people’s who’s been speaking shit and doubting us, and all this stuff, that is superb. However be sure to keep over there when it begins going good for us, too,” Stewart mentioned.
Whereas the Liberty did get the all-important win, Sunday did little to quiet doubts.
