New York Liberty Win Playoff Opener as Breanna Stewart Suffers Left Knee Injury

The New York Liberty secured a 76-69 overtime victory against the Phoenix Mercury in the opening game of their 2025 WNBA playoff series, but the win was overshadowed by a left knee injury to star forward Breanna Stewart. Stewart, who contributed 18 points before exiting, injured her knee late in overtime on a driving layup and was forced to leave the game after attempting to play through the pain. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello confirmed Stewart asked to be substituted due to discomfort but provided no immediate update on her condition, leaving uncertainty ahead of Game 2. Stewart's injury is particularly concerning given her recent history of missing 13 games this season with a bone bruise in her other knee. Despite this setback, the Liberty have depth with players like Natasha Cloud and Emma Meesseman to lean on, but Stewart's potential absence could heavily impact their bid to defend their title. The series continues with Game 2 scheduled in New York, where the team hopes for a positive evaluation of Stewart's injury.