Liberty's Breanna Stewart Injured Early in Loss to Sparks

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart suffered a lower leg injury early in the first quarter of the team's game against the Los Angeles Sparks, forcing her to exit just minutes into the matchup. Stewart, who has been a key player for the Liberty this season with averages of 19 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, has not missed a game this year despite undergoing knee surgery in March. The injury occurred during a transition run, and she was ruled out for the remainder of the game, which the Liberty narrowly lost 101-99 after a last-second layup by Rickea Jackson. Stewart's absence was a major blow as the Liberty had recently welcomed back Jonquel Jones and have been battling multiple injuries throughout the season. Head coach Sandy Brondello had expressed intentions to reduce Stewart's minutes to manage her workload, especially ahead of a four-game road trip starting Monday. The Liberty now face uncertainty regarding Stewart's recovery as they prepare for upcoming games against strong competition.