There’s a team that comes into the season, makes a decent pull for a playoff berth, and gets forgotten in between. And then there’s the New York Liberty. Despite the fact that their championship dreams were crushed hard, there’s a lot more to their name than just a pre-semifinal exit.
It was down to the Phoenix Mercury to decide which way they would take the wind. Much to their own good, they handed the Liberty a 79-73 upset in Game 3. Right after the loss, there were a lot of rumors about what comes next. And just like that, Breanna Stewart defended coach Brondello and the idea of bouncing back next season.
Breanna Stewart Assured She’s Coming Back To Get It
For a team that rolled to a championship in 2024, this season was a rollercoaster of injuries and inconsistency. Just like all the competitive sports work, it left the NY fans wondering if stars like Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu might look elsewhere. But right after the gut-wrenching loss, Stewart shut down any doubts with three simple words that lit up Liberty Nation.
Stewart’s vow to stick with New York, despite a disheartening defeat. The star power forward is a lifeline for a squad that’s got the talent but couldn’t catch a break this year. Her heroic effort in Game 3 while playing through a sprained MCL proved why she’s the heart of this team.
“I’m coming back,” she said via Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile.
NYL will not be having exit interviews. @madkenney asks during postgame if they (Stewie, Sabrina) expect to run it back next year:
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) September 20, 2025
“I’m coming back.” Stewie said definitively.
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And in Stewei we trust. Earlier, she wasn’t going to let her MCL sprain from Game 1’s overtime win keep her off the court for a win-or-go-home Game 3. She poured in 30 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including 12-of-15 from the free-throw line, while grabbing nine rebounds, swiping two steals, and blocking two shots in 35 minutes.
Her 14 fourth-quarter points nearly dragged the Liberty back from a 10-point deficit, but Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (18 points) and Kahleah Copper (20 points) held firm, with Satou Sabally’s clutch free throws sealing the deal.
Breanna Stewart Ended The Season In Good Hope
While there’s still a doubt about how things would turn around in the coming season, fans have all the good reasons to cheer for Stewart. Her performance pushed her to 1,024 playoff points, passing Angel McCoughtry for fourth all-time, too good for a basketball phenom at the age of 31. Though at one time, the Liberty had to update Stewart’s injury status after a loss to the Sparks, she was performing at the highest level.
However, Liberty’s loss exposed their struggles. Much to their misery, Jonquel Jones went 1-for-10, and Ionescu’s two turnovers and 0-for-2 three-point shooting in the fourth didn’t help. Injuries to players Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Courtney Vandersloot derailed their flow all year, and Stewart herself missed 13 games. New York went 5-8 without her compared to 22-9 when she played.
A healthier Stewart might’ve snagged a higher seed, maybe avoiding a red-hot Mercury squad that leaned on its own star trio to stun the champs.