The Liberty entered a hostile surroundings and secured an additional time Sport 1 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
However at what value?
The Liberty win Sport 1, however Breanna Stewart left the sport with a knee harm 👀 pic.twitter.com/ISoA8uAwGz
The Liberty now head to New York for Sport 2 of the first-round sequence not understanding the standing of Breanna Stewart, who exited Sunday’s victory as a consequence of an obvious left knee harm.
The star injured her left knee with three minutes remaining in additional time on an and-1 layup over Phoenix’s Satou Sabally. After colliding with Sabally, Stewart made her layup however instantly fell to the hardwood in ache.
She stayed within the sport, missed her free throw and exited a minute later.
After the sport, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello didn’t have an replace on Stewart, who completed Sport 1 with 18 factors, six rebounds, 4 assists and two steals.
“No, no, we only just got back to the locker room,” Brondello mentioned when requested if there was an instantaneous replace on the star ahead. “I’m sure she’ll be evaluated soon.”
Stewart appeared to be in ache as quickly as she landed following the layup try. The obvious harm was sustained to her left knee — not the proper knee that induced her to overlook 13 video games (bone bruise) over the summer season. Brondello mentioned postgame that the star requested the top coach to “sub her on the market, and she or he seemed uncomfortable, in order that was the explanation we took her on the market.
“And then we’re just, you know, we’ll just be hoping that she’ll be OK.”
With out Stewart, the Liberty clearly shall be shorthanded of their hopes to win back-to-back WNBA titles.
Stewart had been clutch in Sport 1, as her contested 6-foot jumper tied that sport at 65 with 1:31 remaining in regulation. It was the ultimate basket of the fourth quarter and happened shortly earlier than Mercury star Alyssa Thomas blew a layup that may’ve given Phoenix a two-point lead with seconds remaining in regulation.
The 2 groups will play Sport 2 of the best-of-three first-round sequence Wednesday at Barclays Middle.
