Breanna

Stewart

Stewart was one of five Liberty players to reach double-digits in scoring on Tuesday against the Aces. Yet, she didn’t make a major contribution in the scoring department. The two-time MVP fell short of her season average, thanks to an inefficient shooting night. Still, Stewart thrived in other areas as she tallied at least five rebounds and five assists in the same game for the third time this season. Her efforts helped the Liberty avoid a second straight loss and should provide the team a bit of momentum heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Dream.

Initially questionable for Tuesday’s game, Harrison has been declared out with a right knee injury. The Liberty were already without Jonquel Jones (ankle), so their frontcourt depth takes another hit. Nyara Sabally will continue to have added importance despite coming off the bench, while starters Breanna Stewart and Leonie Fiebich will log heavy minutes.

Stewart scored in single digits for the first time all season as inefficient shooting ended her 17-game streak of double-digit scoring performances. She was particularly off in the third quarter, going 0-of-5 from the field and scoreless while New York put up just six points in the frame as a team. Stewart had been on a phenomenal run, so Sunday’s poor showing shouldn’t cause concern for fantasy managers. She will have an opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday against the Aces.

Stewart dominated the interior in Thursday’s win over the Sparks. She collected four offensive rebounds and finished with a season-high in total rebounds, while each of her seven made field goals came in the paint. The production led to her third double-double of the season and helped the Liberty end a two-game losing streak. New York will face Seattle on Sunday in its second of eight-straight home games. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to remain productive.

With Jonquel Jones (ankle) still out and Sabrina Ionescu in the midst of a shooting slump, the scoring burden was on Stewart and she did her best to deliver. The two-time WNBA MVP led the team in field-goal attempts and points, while tallying her eighth straight game of at least 18 points. She also crashed the glass to lead the Liberty in rebounding and made her presence felt on the defensive end with active hands. Stewart is in an ideal spot from a fantasy basketball standpoint, as fantasy managers get to see Stewart heavily used in the offense while the Liberty deal with injuries and play competitive games.

Stewart played well individually offensively, but struggled defensively, especially when it came to containing Alyssa Thomas on drives to the basket. She had a monster 10-point third quarter that got the Liberty back into the game with 4:34 left in the third quarter. She scored 14 of her 17 points in the paint making more than half of her shots driving and cutting. On Friday night Stewart reached 21st on the WNBA’s All-Time field goals made list (1,967), passing the legendary Lindsay Whalen.

Burke’s season-high in points served as a massive boost for the Liberty as they ended a two-game losing streak on Wednesday. The veteran forward logged a season-high 30 minutes against the Valkyries and displayed fantastic three-point shooting and efficiency throughout the contest. Her contributions off the bench, along with Marine Johannes’, were arguably more impactful than any starter’s, aside from Breanna Stewart. Burke’s performance on Wednesday was just the latest highlight in what’s been a career-best season for her.

Stewart delivered for the Liberty to help end the team’s two-game losing streak on Wednesday. The two-time MVP made an impact in several areas, with her work on the glass and as a scorer leading her to her second double-double of the season. Stewart also drained a pair of three-pointers and now has six makes over her last four games, which is a step forward from the four she’d made over the first 10 games of the season. With Sabrina Ionescu in a two-game shooting slump and Jonquel Jones sidelined with an ankle injury, the Liberty will need Stewart to carry them on most nights, as she did on against the Valkyries.

While she failed to extend her streak of twenty-point games to four on Sunday, Stewart led the undermanned Liberty in scoring in a game that wasn’t decided until the final handful of possessions. Stewart, a former two-time champion with the Storm, shot the ball efficiently but was equally impressive as a rebounder and passer. Her contributions across the board left her on the fringes of her first triple-double of the season. The banged-up Liberty have now lost three of four games and will hope to get back in the win column on Wednesday against Golden State.