The New York Liberty is looking to replicate its heroics from the last season. And so far, they have been quite on point with their game. Although New York has failed to clinch the first position in the table, they are quite certain of a playoff berth. However, not everything is fine with the franchise, especially with the injury of Breanna Stewart. Since her time on the bench, Sandy Brondello has shared a ‘doubtful’ update on her return. And with the star gone, the Liberty has achieved a stat they wouldn’t have liked to otherwise.
Stewart has been a cornerstone player for the Liberty squad. With her impeccable hooping abilities, the New York side rested pretty much assured on the defensive front. Unfortunately, following her injury, the team has slipped significantly down in the defensive rankings.
Breanna Stewart’s Absence Costing The New York Liberty Dearly
The updates have been coming thick and fast for Stewart. With a ‘non-negotiable’ status reported this August, the fans are still awaiting a concrete timeline. Meanwhile, it has been 13 games since Liberty last played with ‘Stewie’ on their side. And surely, the difference is telling. The team has struggled significantly, notching up only 5 wins and succumbed to 8 losses.
More importantly, their defensive rankings, too, took quite a dip. According to Madeline Kenney, Liberty had a 97.2 defensive rating before the 30-year-old’s injury. But with Stewie gone, the team now has a 106.8 rating, which is the fourth-worst in the league.
“The Liberty’s defensive rating before Breanna Stewart’s injury was 97.2. Since she went down with the bone bruise, New York’s defensive rating has ballooned to 106.8 — fourth-worst mark in the league since July 26,” Kenney wrote.
The Liberty's defensive rating before Breanna Stewart's injury was 97.2.
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) August 23, 2025
Since she went down with the bone bruise, New York's defensive rating has ballooned to 106.8 — fourth-worst mark in the league since July 26.
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Surely, the Liberty is having a sudden lapse just ahead of the playoffs. In their last two games, the team lost against the Chicago Sky and the Atlanta Dream back-to-back. This is a stark indication that New York needs their 30-year-old star back ASAP. And to further prove how much of an impact Stewart has on the game, Napheesa Collier recently spoke her heart out.
Napheesa Collier Gets Honest About The Tough Challenge Of Guarding Breanna Stewart
Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart have been two of the WNBA’s legends. The duo started their journey together playing for the UConn Huskies. However, coming to the WNBA, they got separated and are now arch-rivals. However, despite the rivalry, Collier made sure that the mutual respect was not lost. Sitting down in an interview with Sue Bird, the Minnesota Lynx star elaborated on how tough it is to contain Stewart.
“My least favorite part, Stew’s a great player. You can play the best defense you want, and she’ll still make it. So that is sometimes frustrating cause I’m like, ‘Oh that’s good D I’m right there contesting,’ plop. She’ll make it,” said Collier.
Well, Collier is not wrong. The 30-year-old does have a knack for slipping away from the defence and wreaking havoc with her superior basketball skills. And it is for the same reason, Stewart is a proud three-time WNBA champion. Now, with her team in disarray, fans would expect Stewie to show up in her hero’s cape and script a familiar rescue.