Wednesday provided an interesting look at Breanna Stewart’s development. It was a chance for her to showcase dominance, even as her shooting profile appears somewhat altered compared to her most dominant season. With Indiana Fever missing Kate Rinklerk due to an injury, Stewart capitalized, scoring 24 points in a decisive 98-77 win for Liberty at Barclays Center. This victory marked their fourth win in five games as they head into the All-Star break.
This season, about 21.7% of Stewart’s shots have come from beyond the arc, yet she seems to favor scoring in the paint again. Meanwhile, teammates Sabrina Ionescu (15 points, nine assists) and Natasha Cloud (14 points) made sure the Fever couldn’t rally, with Stewart’s performance continuing a trend of scoring over 20 points for the third time in the last nine games.
Assistant coach Olaf Lange noted that changes in Stewart’s shot selection stemmed from an increased facilitator role. He mentioned how Ionescu sometimes struggles to penetrate the paint against the other team’s top defenders. Despite any shifts in her scoring methods, Stewart continues to drive aggressively and convert shots around the basket, paralleling her MVP-level contributions.
Stewart’s efforts on Wednesday were key in building an eight-point lead after the first quarter and extending it to 15 by halftime. She displayed her skills by hitting jumpers after receiving passes and finishing layups during transition plays, ultimately securing her fifth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.
By the time she left the game in the fourth quarter, Liberty was ahead by about 20 points, thanks in part to their solid defense that limited the Fever to 38% shooting in the first half. Even with Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham scoring 16 and 12 points respectively, they struggled to respond to Stewart’s efforts.
Stewart’s new approach isn’t simply a result of offseason changes but rather an adaptation to on-the-court needs. Earlier in the season, she faced challenges following knee surgery, which impacted her strength and stamina. While she hasn’t missed any games, it took some time to adjust. Lange remains optimistic that Stewart’s three-point shooting will improve as the season progresses, perhaps even beyond this season. But for now, it seems to be working well enough.
On nights like Wednesday, Stewart certainly demonstrated why it can be enough.
