Stewart’s Triumphant 19 Points in Return Sparks Liberty Victory
Looking at a one-month drought, the New York Liberty needed their superstar back. They got exactly what they ordered Monday night, and then some.
Breanna Stewart made her grand comeback from a month-long hiatus, dropping 19 points in just 21 minutes to lead the Liberty past the Connecticut Sun 81-79 at Barclays Center. After missing 13 games with a bone bruise in her right knee, Stewart looked like she never left, which is more than we can say about the Liberty’s playoff positioning during her absence.
The two-time MVPs’ return couldn’t have been more timely. New York entered Monday’s contest sitting in fifth place in the league standings, a far cry from their second-best record (17-6) when Stewart went down on July 26. That’s what happens when you lose your best player for a month: ask any team that’s tried to replace prime LeBron or Giannis for an extended stretch.
Liberty’s Supporting Cast Steps Up When It Matters
While Stewart grabbed the headlines, Jonquel Jones quietly stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu, who also returned from a foot injury, contributed 11 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. But perhaps most importantly, Ionescu came up with the game-sealing steal with 2.2 seconds left, stripping the ball from Connecticut’s Leila Lacan as she attempted a potential game-tying layup.
Emma Meesseman, the two-time All-Star and former Finals MVP who joined the Liberty at the All-Star break, added crucial minutes off the bench. The veteran forward capped off a decisive 9-0 fourth-quarter run with a layup that gave New York breathing room at 74-66.
Connecticut Refuses to Fold Despite Disappointing Season
Credit where it’s due, the Sun fought until the final buzzer despite sporting a dismal 9-28 record. Aneesah Morrow dominated the glass with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Lacan provided 22 points in what was supposed to be a questionable appearance due to an eye injury suffered in their previous game.
Connecticut actually led 59-58 heading into the final quarter, proving they weren’t intimidated by Stewart’s return. The Sun have now dropped to 9-29 after snapping their season-best three-game winning streak, but their effort Monday showed they’re not ready to roll over just yet.
Can Stewart Power Liberty’s Championship Defense?
Here’s the million-dollar question: Can Stewart shake off the rust quickly enough to lead the Liberty back to championship form? Her 19 points in limited minutes suggest the answer is yes, but time isn’t exactly on their side.
With just seven games remaining in the regular season, the Liberty face an uphill battle to climb back into championship contention. The race for the No. 2 seed remains wide open, with the Dream, Aces, Mercury, and Liberty separated by just two games. Minnesota has essentially locked up the top spot with a six-game lead, but everything else is up for grabs.
Stewart averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game before her injury while shooting nearly 47% from the field. Those are MVP-caliber numbers, and the Liberty desperately need that level of production if they want to make another championship run.
The defending champions showed Monday night they’re not ready to surrender their crown without a fight. With Stewart healthy and their core intact, don’t count out the Liberty just yet—even if their margin for error has essentially vanished.
