It’s over. The New York Liberty, reigning WNBA champions, have been dethroned. After a season plagued by injuries, the Liberty could no longer sustain their pace and ultimately fell to the Phoenix Mercury, who ended their hopes of capturing back-to-back titles.
The series concluded 2-1 in favor of Phoenix. However, this outcome does not overshadow the remarkable effort of Liberty star Breanna Stewart. Despite suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament in Game 1 of the playoff series against Phoenix, Stewart never complained and continued to battle, determined to help her team advance.
A memorable performance by Stewart in Game 3
Before reaching the decisive third game, the Liberty endured a painful home loss in Game 2. A win in that matchup would have propelled them closer to defending their crown. Stewart had a quiet night in that contest, managing just six points, a reflection of her injury struggles at the time.
Knowing what was at stake, she pushed herself to the limit in Game 3, giving everything she had to extend New York’s postseason run. In the end, it wasn’t enough. Phoenix triumphed 79-73, eliminating the defending champions.
Stewart’s heroic effort did not go unnoticed by her teammate Sabrina Ionescu, who praised Stewart’s extraordinary resilience and leadership after the game.
Her ability to continue to shoot, pass, rebound, defend.”… “[She’s] one of the greatest to ever play the game and she’s still playing it.
Despite her injury, Stewart delivered a brilliant stat line: 30 points, nine rebounds, and an impressive 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. She also connected on key three-pointers and consistently generated scoring opportunities, showcasing the same dominance she displayed throughout the regular season. Unfortunately for the Liberty, her stellar performance was not enough to overcome Phoenix’s balanced attack.
Continuing her tribute, Ionescu added heartfelt words about her admiration for Stewart.
It’s an honor to be able to watch what she does every day, how she leads by example, how I can have a player to look up to like her on my team and go to war with her every day.
There isn’t a player who I would admire more and would love to play alongside for the rest of my career because of how she comes out every single day for practice, for games, for anything.
Looking ahead to 2026 for the Liberty
With their title defense over, the Liberty are already turning their attention to the 2026 season. The team hopes to retain its core group of stars, believing that stability will give them another shot at reclaiming the championship, much like they did in 2024.
The team never looks the same every single year and I think that’s what’s really special about what you have in your locker room.”… “You can never really replicate that year in and year out, but I think we understand our core players, the players are committed to wanting to be here through the good and the bad.
Ionescu said.
As for Stewart, her message was clear and direct:
I’m coming back.
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