New York Freedom’s 2025 WNBA Season Overview
The New York Freedom entered the 2025 WNBA season with lofty expectations. As the reigning champions who had made significant upgrades to their roster during the offseason, they were poised to dominate the league. For a good part of the early season, they lived up to those expectations, often sitting in the top two of the WNBA standings and even sweeping the WNBA All-Star Weekend, maintaining a solid winning record.
Yet, things took a turn for the worse in July and August, and now, it seems, the WNBA isn’t as competitive as it used to be.
Injuries have hit hard, much like with every team in the league. The condensed schedule this season has certainly played a role, leaving players vulnerable to injury. According to a basketball injury tracker, there have been 214 injuries this season alone, a noticeable jump from the 203 reported in 2024. With weeks left in the regular season, the effects are still being felt.
One of the most significant setbacks for New York was the injury to Breanna Stewart, who sustained a bone bruise in her knee at the end of July. During her absence from July 26 to August 25, the team managed a record of 5 wins and 9 losses, causing them to tumble from 2nd to 5th in the league standings. As it stands, they are trailing the Minnesota Lynx by 7.5 games, and are just 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Dream, while Las Vegas sits third, tied with Phoenix in fourth. The final days of the regular season could lead to fluctuations in these rankings, but for now, the situation is less than ideal for the champions.
On August 25, Breanna Stewart announced her return during Shootaround, aiming to play in the Liberty’s game against the Connecticut Sun that coming Monday. She had set the goal of getting back on the court by her birthday, August 27, which added a nice story to the week. However, other key players like Sabrina Ionescu (foot), Natasha Cloud (nose), Isabelle Harrison (concussion), and Nyara Sabally (knee) have also been noted on the injury reports. Stewart’s return adds a much-needed boost as they approach the crucial stretch before the playoffs.
When Stewart returned to the game on Monday with a 20-minute playtime limit, it was evident that her presence had an immediate impact. The Liberty fought hard, squeezing out a narrow win over the Sun, managing to top them by just two points. Stewart contributed significantly, scoring 19 points, grabbing five rebounds, and recording one block. While her shooting percentage was only 33%, she effectively got to the free-throw line, taking 13 shots and making 11.
Her absence was unmistakable during her month away. Beyond being a vocal leader on the floor, her multidimensional game brought a lot to the team. Standing at 6’4″, she offers solid rim protection and can defend the perimeter as well. Offensively, she’s versatile—great at screening, rolling to the basket, finishing strong, drawing fouls, and can shoot from nearly anywhere, even from distance this season. Her knack for stepping up in critical moments has made her elite, and her accomplishments tell their own story: three WNBA Championships, two MVPs, four NCAA tournament titles, and seven All-Star appearances barely scratch the surface of her success.
Hopefully, integrating her back into the lineup will revitalize the Liberty. Despite recent struggles, they still remain favorites to make a return to the WNBA Finals.
