The Liberty was without its two-time reigning MVP on Saturday, but there were no long-term concerns about Breanna Stewart’s status.
“Stewie could have played today but it’s probably wise to rest him,” coach Sandy Brondello said before the match against the Sky. “We just need to get as much time as we can. It’s a big game for us but we still have to think about the bigger picture and be as smart as we can about the health of our players.”
That’s at least a positive sign for the Liberty, who go on an Olympic break following Tuesday’s home game against the Connecticut Sun.
Stewart will then travel to Paris to represent the U.S. team alongside Sabrina Ionescu.
Coach Brondello made the decision to bench the superstar forward, who leads the Liberty in scoring with 19.3 points per game, more out of load management than concern.
“We’ve lost three of our four games. It’s a minor injury. Let’s rest him today. Hopefully he’ll play in the next game.”
The Liberty gave Kennedy Burke her first start of the season in place of Stewart, using the 27-year-old Burke in place of the benched Kayla Thornton.
A condensed schedule due to the month-long Olympic break has presented a tough challenge for the Liberty and the rest of the league to navigate.
In addition to Stewart, Betnijah Rainey-Hamilton also missed his third straight game Saturday with a right knee injury.
“I think the Olympic break will be good for her. B has had some issues with her knee. I think most athletes have nagging injuries,” Brondello said. “We’re just mindful of it. Overall, we want B to compete close to 100 percent. We’re still figuring out what’s best for her. We have the Olympic break coming up, which is a good time for her to get what she needs. There’s a whole season after the Olympics. Let’s get her healthy and go from there.”
