Survivory game 1 from Triller, but Breanna Stewart injuries and messy play defense in question in case

Three minutes in overtime in the game 1 series of players played players against Phoenix MerkurThe New York Liberty gathered around their stars Breanna Stewartwho set in the court in the left knee.

Stewart tried a free throw awarded to the play that led to her injury, missed him and left the game well soon after. She seemed to fight back tears while watching her winning from 76-69.

Stewart had 18 points, six jumps and four assists in a narrow, even though untidy, match in PostSeason, which was played in Phoenik. There is currently no updates on her health.

“We just got back to the room with a locker. I’m sure they’ll be rated soon,” said New York coach Sandy Brondello, he told reporters after the game. With a new playoff format, New York and Phoenix will be sent to Brookline for play 2 on Wednesday night.

“He asked me to put it in there, and she looked uncomfortable, so that was the reason we took it … We hope she will be fine.”

The severe injury to Stewart could stop New York postseason to run before it started.

The posterone was supposed to be a reset, a chance to delete slate clean. “Once the playoffs come, it’s just a new season”, “New York Guardian Sabrina Ionescu It was said in the recent episode of the sloberti unsatisfactor, the weight of all-access series.

Instead, play 1 to encourage mental errors and injury to a key player.

Breanna Stewart Injury: Liberty Star (Knee) leaves a match 1 against Mercury in the extension, “Soon ‘will be estimated

Jack Malonei

Vulnerable season

The season did not pass as expected for New York freedom. After hot start, injuries have forced the freedom to use more than 15 different starting compositions in a season of 44 games.

Stewart missed 13 games during the regular season with the right hoof. Freedom went 5-8 without her. The team was also without services of 2024. VNBA Finals MVP Jonkuel Jones For 13 games, sixth player of the year candidate Kennedy Burke For eight games and Niara Saballiwhich played a crucial role in the game 5 Overtime Classic sealed 2024. VNA Freedom Championship, 27 games. Colleague German Olympic Leonie Fiebich She also missed seven games.

It can be tempted in temptation to blame all 2025 trouble for injuries. However, this would stupid overlook that New York passed 13.8 turnaround by the match during the regular season. Freedom also conducted a league in offensive jumps (9.7) allowed by the game and gave up on average of 14.8 reversal points.

Liberty is a phoenix 15. gave 21 rollers on Sunday.

Since freedom fell to the fifth seeds in the playmies, he probably will not take advantage at home in the upsigrants. During the regular season, New York went 10-12 in the away games.

Everyone must reinforce

Phoenix almost doubled freedom in free throw attempts. All but one of the nine New York attempts came from Stewart and Team Leaders Natasha Cloud (23 points), which carried the team in a physical, low scoring game,

If Stewart comes out on Wednesday, one of her teammates will have to step up. Jones, who held the Phoenix on a week of seven points, is the main candidate. Jones was aggressive on committees, but they will have to give freedom offenses if they hope to click series in front of their home crowd. The defense champions are nasty of 33-0 in the last three years when Jones speaks double double in the regular season.

“I just want to be able to protect the rim and then, you know, I use my jump so we can close our names and eventually win,” Jones said after the week. It understands that it will only be physically increased as the playoffs continue.

“You get treatment, you understand that it’s just the nature of the playoffs, that physicality only as it will be. It will really be set from another level, from the regular season,” Jones said.

2025 VNBA Playoffs and Losers: Link, Aces Score Huge victory; Freedom is losing Brean Stewart on injuries

Jack Malonei

“I think our experience also helps us in that aspect, because we are used to it. We understood or understand, what was just going to distance. So that’s just the nature of the playoffs”, it’s just the nature of the playoffs.

Sabrina Ionescu had 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the night, and Leonie Fiebich added 10 points – including huge overtime work outside the port to ensure victory. The shooting of the rim could decide the winner of this series.

“We are a great team of shooting with 3 points, as well. We fell on it. And Leonie Fiebich, none of that, said Brondell. Nev and 414 three pointers this season, respectively.

“Yes, it was huge. You know, it’s funny. I’ve been missing something early, and I knew it was going to hit the biggest night,” only what he did. ”

The Liberty bench just scored two points.

What is next

The winning game 1 Tips Scale for New York, which went to Barclays Center this season.

“We have an advantage. We won a guest game and we have been advantage to take care of it. And we know here earlier and we know what it’s here before and we know here before and know what it’s here before and we know If it had been here before.

If freedom loses on Wednesday, the series returned to Phoenix 3. Mercury asking her first post-season victory from 2021. years, when the Mercury Coach Brodlo led five-seeds of the VNBA VNBA Finals. The winner of this series will face the winner Minnesota Link and Gold State of Walkiries In the semifinals.

Before the start of the playoffs, Stewart expressed optimism on the latest Liberty unlocked episode on the request team for defense title.

“We haven’t reached the top yet and that’s what is the most exciting part about it,” Stewart said in episode, while he sat under the statue of the former teammate and 2025 Naimith Hall in Seattle.

“Everyone who tells shit and doubt us, and all these things, it’s okay. But be sure to stay there when and it’s going well,” Stewart said.

While freedom got his important victory, the week was little in the quiet doubt.