Breanna Stewart will finally hit the floor for the New York Liberty Monday night after a 13-game absence due to a bone bruise in her right knee. The news is a welcome update for the team and for fans alike, especially since the Liberty have clearly suffered without Stewart on the court.
The Liberty have also listed Sabrina Ionescu, who injured her foot during the team's game against the Chicago Sky last Thursday.
Stewart's return will offer the Liberty a chance to recover ground lost since she last played July 26. New York currently sits at No. 5 overall, a position that was unthinkable only weeks ago. The Liberty lost that game and the three that followed, and now the team's chances of repeating their 2024 Championship are in serious jeopardy.
The Liberty were on track to win it all again this season
The Liberty dominated WNBA discourse and play for most of the 2025 season, and even managed to stay in the running toward a second Championship after Jonquel Jones returned from her own ankle injury. Jones' return was celebrated, especially as she was largely considered to be the team's X-factor this year — but the Liberty struggled in the wake of Stewart's absence, even with Jones putting in strong performances in back-to-back games.
The Liberty also signed Emma Meesseman, who joined the team in July. Adding Meesseman to the team's already heavily stacked roster was meant to be yet another step toward securing the Liberty's ultimate goal, and Monday night's game against the Sun will be the first time she and Stewart have had the chance to play together.
The Liberty should have a relatively easy time of Monday's game, but securing the No. 2 seed in the playoffs will be a steep challenge. That's a position the Liberty hope to find themselves in no matter what, especially since the teams at the No. 4 and 5 spots will find themselves playing the No. 1 seed the Minnesota Lynx twice.
Right now, the Aces or the Dream are on the brink of locking in the No. 2 spot, and the Mercury are right behind whoever doesn't land there. While the Sun has already been eliminated from playoffs contention, the team is still likely to play their toughest game of basketball against New York — and if Marina Mabrey's 3-pointers are landing, she'll give the Liberty a run for their money.