Breanna Stewart Reflects on Holiday Breaks
Breanna Stewart is feeling thankful for the holiday breaks amidst the ongoing Liberty season, which has been, well, a bit unusual. The team currently holds a 13-6 record, having recently defeated the ACES 87-78. They now have a four-day pause before their next game against the Dream.
As a seasoned All-Star—this being her seventh—Stewart knows this is likely her last opportunity for some downtime. Instead of resting completely during the All-Star break from July 18-19, she’ll be playing on Napheesa Collier’s team, coached by Cheryl Reeve.
On Thursday, she made time to help out by distributing food and wellness items to Brooklyn residents facing food insecurity at St. John’s Pan & Life. “Incredible,” she described how the break had been so far.
Did she need a vacation? “Yeah, yeah,” was her straightforward answer. She elaborated, saying, “The holidays were fantastic. Since Leo—referring to Leonie Fiebich—we’ve had some tough stretches, especially with JJ [Jonquel Jones] out. I hope we’ll get everyone back soon.”
Liberty did have a break last month, though it involved travel to Washington. After the All-Star break, their new schedule will ramp up, featuring two consecutive games plus three or four games weekly, leading up to the regular season’s end on September 11.
Stewart is taking advantage of this rare chance for extra rest at home. “I don’t think there’s another break like this for the rest of the season,” she noted. “Our schedule gets pretty intense late July through late August. So, you really need to capitalize on these moments and give your body a rest.”
Many teammates were working on individual skills at Barclays Center that day. “People are motivated to improve, and that’s a good part of it,” Stewart remarked.
Despite starting off strong with a franchise record of 9-0, Liberty has hit a rough patch, losing six of their last ten games. Jones has been sidelined with an ankle injury, while Fiebich missed seven games to compete in the German Eurobasket, returning in early July. Additionally, Isabel Harrison (knee) and Natasha Cloud (hip) were unavailable in the recent match.
Injuries, particularly during a challenging schedule, have proven difficult, yet there’s still anticipation for potential back-to-back championship fights, with hopes riding high on the upcoming WNBA Finals series. “What we’re focusing on [during this break] is the roster size,” Stewart commented. “Hopefully that changes by Tuesday. But we need to consciously aim for improvement as we head into two more games before the All-Star break.”
Nearly halfway through her third season with the Liberty, Stewart expresses a genuine appreciation for her role in the Brooklyn community. She engaged with fans while helping at a food truck, chatting and taking pictures in her apron.
“Since I’ve been here, making an impact in the community has been important to me,” she explained. “Seeing 17-18,000 people supporting us at the games means a lot. I want to keep that connection, not just during the season but in the offseason as well, because many folks need help… I hope we can hold more events like this.”
