One of the better seasons for New York Liberty, but for their star forward, not so much. Sabrina Ionescu seems to have rather taken the reins from her veteran this season, leading in scoring, assists, and steals. But flames remain alight for Breanna Stewart, who gave a glimpse of her brilliance again, surpassing an individual record in game 1 of the semi-finals against the LV Aces. 

Through 36 minutes on the court, Stewart put up a game-leading 34-point performance. This marked her fourth time scoring 25 points in a playoff game and officially dethroning Cappie Pondexter as the all-time leader in 25-point postseason games. 

In the process, the Liberty looked a step closer to avenging their 2023 Finals loss with an 87-77 victory. Following the 30-year-old’s brilliance, Jonquel Jones contributed a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. 

Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum was the standout for the Aces, scoring 24 points, and A’ja Wilson added 21. Throughout the game, Liberty’s shooting efficiency was notable, hitting 49.2% from the field compared to the Aces’ 43.3%. They also out-rebounded the Aces 31-22, showcasing their dominance on the boards​. 

Despite initially being pitted against a powerful Aces squad, the 2× WNBA champion found her rhythm at just the right time. However, her recent performance in the WNBA playoffs hasn’t quite lived up to the high expectations. Her play has been described as ‘inconsistent,’ especially in crucial moments. This season, while she did use her skills, it was clear she wasn’t at her best.

Stewart’s Tough Year- What Went Wrong?

The 2× WNBA Finals MVP’s numbers dipped this season. Her scoring dropped to 19.3 points per game before the Olympic break, well below her usual 23.8 average. She shot only 21% from the three-point line, a far cry from her career average of 36%. Her performance in the first half of the game against Atlanta Dream, where Liberty lost by 67 – 78, was tough to watch. She missed all but one free throw out of her eight attempts.

So, what was up with that? Well, it looks like preparing for the Paris Olympics took a toll on her mentally, emotionally, and physically. But now, with the Olympics behind her, the 6× WNBA All-Star seems focused and ready to take Liberty as far as she can. 

Since returning from the Olympic break, she’s averaging 22.7 points and shooting an impressive 44.4% from beyond the arc. She’s also leading Liberty in efficiency with a rating of 24.9, the third-best in the league. And speaking of the Olympics, Stewart’s a golden girl in that arena too—three golds, spanning 2016, 2020, and the recent Paris 2024. Sure, she faced some criticism about her ‘declining’ performance at 30, but she brushed it off. 

“Take this in the right way; the Olympics are behind me,” she said, entirely focusing now on leading the Liberty. The upcoming games are going to be another huge test. But if the WNBA star keeps bringing her A-game, Liberty can bring their first-ever WNBA title home!