PHOENIX — The New York Liberty came away with a 76-69 overtime win over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, but the victory was bittersweet as Breanna Stewart exited early with an apparent injury.
Stewart, 31, went down with 3:01 remaining in overtime after making a driving layup to put the Liberty up, 70-65. Stewart remained on the court, clutching her left knee and was eventually helped to her feet by teammates. She gingerly walked over to the bench for a timeout and missed a free throw attempt when the game resumed.
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said its too soon to provide an update on Stewart following the overtime victory, but said the two-time WNBA MVP will undergo evaluations with the team’s medical staff.
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Stewart attempted to play through her injury but asked to be subbed out the game about a minute later, Brondello said. Stewart didn’t check back into the game, finishing the night with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists, and was spotted wearing a brace on her left knee after the game.
‘She asked me to sub her out then. She looked uncomfortable,’ Brondello said. ‘That’s the reason we took her out. We’re just hoping that she will be OK.’
Stewart previously missed 13 games in the regular season after sustaining a bone bruise in her right knee on July 26.
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