The New York Liberty did secure a dominating victory against the Phoenix Mercury. But that did come at a cost. With their star player, Breanna Stewart, suffering a brutal leg injury, the tensions are already heightened. Thankfully, having already taken a 1-0 lead, the defending champions will only need one more victory to wrap things up. And with the likes of Sabrina Ionescu in their ranks, things are seemingly looking good for New York.
Unfortunately, that might not be the case at all. That’s because Mercury already showed that they can give the Liberty a run for their money. With Game 1 going into overtime, things looked extremely hectic for Liberty. And if by chance, the next game too goes into overtime, Ionescu and Co. will surely be feeling the brunt.
Sabrina Ionescu Might Face Extreme Exhaustion Following Breanna Stewart’s Injury
Ionescu already dropped a 43-minute game. And that has definitely taken a toll on her body. And with Stewart’s Game 2 status still not confirmed, the onus will be on the 27-year-old star to take her team home. Speaking on the challenges, Caroline Fenton recently doubled down on the matter in a recent episode of Hoops 360.
She presented a hypothetical scenario in which Ionescu and her team play another 40+ minute game but still suffer a defeat. According to Fenton, this is where things will get interesting. This will mean that the Liberty will have a long road trip back to Phoenix and then come back again to New York. In the meantime, one of their primary stars would be down with an injury. And the other star, Ionescu, risks getting gassed out with back-to-back 40+ minute games.
Surely, this will be a crucial moment in the playoffs for the Liberty. Already in the post-game presser, Ionescu looked sleepy. Thankfully, Sandy Brondello’s update following the game looked positive. Yet, the dark clouds over her Game 2 availability linger.
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Breanna Stewart Uncertain For Game 2 Against The Phoenix Mercury
With just more than three minutes left in the game, Stewart went down following a harsh tussle with Satou Sabally. Immediately, the Liberty star grimaced in pain as she left the court and did not return to the game. After Stewart came to the bench, she had her knee strapped heavily. According to the latest news, Stewart has undergone an MRI following their opening playoff game.
“We’ll just be hoping that she’ll be OK,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said after the game.
Surely, if Stewart is unavailable to play in Game 2, it will be a huge setback for the Liberty. Playing in Game 1, the Liberty star finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Moreover, it would be utterly frustrating for Stewart, too, as she has already missed 13 games this season due to an earlier injury. Thus, with the Liberty finding themselves in a pickle, fans are eager to find out what happens next.