Liberty survive Sport 1 OT thriller, however Breanna Stewart harm and sloppy play put title protection in query

Three minutes into extra time in Sport 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 courtroom grabbing at her left knee. 

Stewart tried the free throw awarded on the play that led to her harm, missed it, and left the sport for good shortly afterwards. She gave the impression to be combating again tears as she watched her staff 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 is no such thing as a replace on her well being presently. 

“We solely simply received again to the locker room. I am positive she’ll be evaluated quickly,” New York coach Sandy Brondello advised reporters after the sport. With the brand new playoff format, each New York and Phoenix will head to Brooklyn for Sport 2 Wednesday night time.

“She requested me to sub her on the market, and he or she regarded uncomfortable, in order that was the explanation we took her out … we’re simply hoping that she’ll be okay.”

A severe harm to Stewart might cease New York’s postseason run earlier than it even will get began. 

The postseason was purported 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 stated within the current episode of Liberty Unlocked, the staff’s all-access collection. 

As an alternative, Sport 1 featured psychological errors and an harm to a key participant. 

Breanna Stewart harm: Liberty star (knee) leaves Sport 1 vs. Mercury in extra time, might 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 pressured the Liberty to make use of greater than 15 totally different beginning lineups in a 44-game season.

Stewart missed 13 video games throughout the common season with a proper knee bone bruise. The Liberty went 5-8 with out her. The staff was additionally with out the providers of 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones for 13 video games, Sixth Participant of the Yr candidate Kennedy Burke for eight video games and Nyara Sabally, who performed a vital function within the Sport 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 responsible 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 mean 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 house courtroom benefit all through the playoffs. New York went 10-12 in away video games throughout the common season. 

Everybody must step up

Phoenix practically doubled the Liberty in free throw makes an attempt. All however one among New York’s 9 makes an attempt got here from Stewart and staff scoring chief Natasha Cloud (23 factors), who carried the staff within the bodily, low-scoring sport,

If Stewart is out on Wednesday, one among her teammates must 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 house 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 already know, use my rebounding to have the ability to assist us shut our possessions and in the end win,” Jones stated after Sunday’s sport. She understands the physicality will solely improve because the playoffs proceed. 

“You get remedy, you perceive that that is simply the character of the playoffs, that physicality is simply how it should be. It should be actually turned up from one other degree, from the common season,” Jones stated. 

2025 WNBA playoffs winners and losers: Lynx, Aces rating big wins; Liberty lose Breanna Stewart to harm

Jack Maloney

“I believe expertise type 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 outdoors the arc to safe the win. Perimeter capturing might determine the winner of this collection. 

“We’re as nice of a 3-point capturing staff 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 greater than that 3 in extra time,” Brondello stated. New York and Phoenix took 419 and 414 three-pointers this seasons, respectively. 

“Yeah, it was big. You recognize, it is humorous. I used to be — you already know 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 stated about Fiebich postgame. 

The Liberty’s bench solely scored two factors.

What’s subsequent

Profitable Sport 1 suggestions the scales for New York, who went 17-5 at Barclays Heart this season.

“We’ve the benefit. We gained an away sport and we gained on their house courtroom. Now the benefit is for us to maintain it. And this, such as you stated, it’s an skilled staff. We have been right here earlier than, and we all know what our purpose is, and you already know, we need to maintain enjoying,” Brondello stated.

If the Liberty lose on Wednesday, the collection heads again to Phoenix for Sport 3. The Mercury are in search of 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 most recent Liberty Unlocked episode concerning the staff’s quest for a title protection. 

“We’ve 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 stated 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 these items, that is high-quality. However be sure you keep over there when it begins going good for us, too,” Stewart stated.

Whereas the Liberty did get the all-important win, Sunday did little to quiet doubts.