The New York Liberty dropped to third place following its back-to-back losses. The contender side struggled to hold on to their win streaks, especially against the top teams like the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream. One primary reason behind this is the absence of an experienced and impactful star, Breanna Stewart.
The veteran forward suffered an injury during a game against the LA Sparks on July 26. Two weeks after the injury, there had been no updates. But now, the HC Sandy Brondello spoke about it in a press conference.
Sandy Brondello With Cautious Update On Breanna Stewart
The 2024 WNBA champions were clear favorites from the start of the new season. The addition of Natasha Cloud further solidified their chances of retaining the title. But the team struggled in between, with injuries to Jonquel Jones and now to Stewart.
While the team fared well without Jones, the two-time MVP’s absence hampered them a lot. The Lynx and Dream took advantage of the defensive stalwart, hurting the NY side in the paint. This was nothing but a clear picture of playoff matchups, and fans were worried about Stewart’s return.
Ahead of the game against the Minnesota Lynx, HC Sandy Brondello provided an update as the star returned to training. “She looked good. We didn’t really go live, so we’ll keep building her up these next few days… Hopefully we can get her back [soon],” HC told the interviewer during training.
Coach Brondello on Breanna Stewart's return to practice, via @MylesEhrlich:
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) August 18, 2025
"She looked good. We didn't really go live, so we'll keep building her up these next few days. … Hopefully we can get her back [soon]."
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
The veteran star suffered a bone bruise in her knee during a game against the Sparks. She was able to walk out of the court, which was a good sign, but the franchise chose to invest more time in her recovery to have her fully fit for their title defense.
The side will face their arch rivals, the Lynx, on August 19. As per the Lynx guard, Courtney Williams, both teams seems to hate each other but hearing Brondello’s statements, it is unlikely to see the 6-foot-4 forward taking the floor.
Return Of Rested Brenna Stewart Would Be Big Advantage For Liberty
The no-contact leg injury forced the 30-year-old star out of action and handed her nearly two weeks’ rest. Even though the franchise would have loved to see her 100 percent healthy and allow her the rest, they would take this ‘forced rest’ and have her back on court.
Her addition would significantly enhance the team’s defensive stability. She is also a handy scorer in the clutch moments. With just 10 regular-season games left for the side, Brondello will look to use her experienced star wisely to allow her to be available at her best during the playoffs.