Breanna Stewart of Liberty feeling ‘fairly good’ after coping with a knee sprain

Breanna Stewart’s Recovery Amidst Tough Loss

If there’s a silver lining from Game 2 for the Liberty, it’s that it served as a bit of a test run for Breanna Stewart.

The two-time MVP, who disclosed that she’s dealing with an MCL sprain in her left knee following Game 1 in Phoenix, faced off during the Liberty’s tough 86-60 defeat at the Barclays Center. She described her performance as “pretty good,” despite the scoreline.

Stewart managed to score only six points in 20 minutes on the court, accompanied by two rebounds, two assists, and three turnovers. Still, she acknowledged the battle was more psychological than physical.

“I got to gauge how I felt out there,” Stewart said after the game, which has set the stage for an elimination match on Friday. “I’m eager to loosen things up a bit. I think they want me to run some highball screens, and I’m ready to see how that translates. That’s what we practiced today, and I feel prepared.”

During the game, Stewart wore a brace on her left knee, hoping that any discomfort would gradually diminish. While she faced the challenge head-on, there was a bright side to her movement on the court.

“I was really pleased with how I moved out there. I need to boost my confidence a bit, but I wasn’t in pain or anything like that,” she remarked.

Stewart, along with her MVP counterparts, realized she would be a primary target as Phoenix dominated the paint, outscoring the Liberty 38 to 22.

However, she expressed her frustration about being “embarrassed” on her own turf against a fierce opposing team.

“It’s frustrating, but stuff happens,” she stated. “Everyone is dealing with fatigue and discomfort, and we’re all playing through various issues. I aimed to support my team, even though I didn’t play at my best. But I’m looking forward to another shot at it.”

Ionescu Struggles in Defeat

Sabrina Ionescu faced a challenging night, recalling one of her most disappointing playoff performances. Unlike past post-game interviews filled with celebrations, this time, the atmosphere was quite different—no champagne or jubilant remarks awaited as they were not gearing up for a celebration.

Ionescu could only muster nine points, struggling with her shooting—she went 1-for-8 from beyond the arc and only 3-for-13 overall from the field.

Her rough start included a three-point attempt that drew a foul by Monique Akoa Makani, but she missed all three free throws, silencing the home crowd.