“She does so many great things for us.” NY Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello was all praise for franchise superstar Breanna Stewart following the Game 4 win over the LV Aces. Stewart, as usual, has been an absolute powerhouse this season. But who would have expected that she’d even excel as a pick-and-roll ball handler? It turned out to be a game-changer for the Liberty, and all that hard work has really paid off as they enter the Finals for the sixth time in franchise history.

Brondello couldn’t help but shower Stewart with praise after an impressive 76-62 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of the semis. When asked about the 30-year-old’s performance and the emphasis on her as a pick-and-roll handler, the NY Liberty HC revealed that they had been actively developing Stewart in this role.

She pointed out that the Aces were reluctant to switch on any pick-and-roll actions, which made it a perfect opportunity to utilize her skills. “We’ve been continuing to develop Stewie as a handler. They didn’t wanna switch any pick & roll so why not use her in the P&R action? I thought it was very effective for us. She does so many great things for us. I mean, she was massive for us,” she said in the post-game press conference.

Interestingly, Stewart averaged 5.7 assists in the three wins for NY over the Aces in the playoffs. That’s a lot more than her regular season average of 3.5 assists per game. While Sabrina Ionescu was the team’s primary ball handler and played her role to perfection, Stewart displayed a side of her that’s not often seen.

Brondello also highlighted the defensive challenge they faced, saying they had to make Stewart guard Kelsey Plum. She praised her efforts, explaining, “I thought she did an excellent job chasing all the guards around.” The 2x MVP agreed with that statement. Along with it, the head coach also emphasized her high energy and skill, concluding with, “Let’s just use all her skills.”

It can’t be denied that the Liberty came out firing, taking the lead early and never looking back. They eliminated the Aces, the 2x defending champs, and snapped their incredible 12-game home winning streak in the postseason. Stewart’s defense was the key as she limited Kelsey Plum to 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting. 

She totally disrupted the Aces guard’s rhythm. The team also set a franchise postseason record with 48 rebounds against LV Aces, with 13 offensive boards, marking their highest output of the 2024 playoffs. They also became the second team to defeat the defending champions in more than 6 games in the same season. Throughout an amazing season, Stewie definitely shined in every aspect.

Breanna Stewart: Driving the Liberty forward

NY Liberty’s power forward has been absolutely phenomenal this season. Statistically speaking, she’s averaged over 20 points per game throughout the regular season and the playoffs. While her rebounding averages have dipped from 8.7 in the regular season to 7.0 in the post-season, her impact on the other side of the court has been brilliant.

In Game 4 against the Aces, her high energy was evident as she not only kept the guards in check but also made a few defensive plays that helped shift momentum. In previous games, there have been moments where Stewart single-handedly swung the momentum with her clutch shooting and aggressive rebounding.

For instance, in a matchup against the defending champions earlier in the season, she not only led the team in scoring 30 points but also snagged a career-high 15 rebounds. It’s no wonder she’s a two-time WNBA MVP. Her role as a pick-and-roll handler played a big role in the series against the Aces. As the team heads to the Finals, it’ll be interesting to see what more she could add to her game.