We don’t even know what the precise damage is.
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello mentioned Tuesday that Stewart didn’t take part in follow and is a “game-time decision” for Wednesday’s Sport 2 towards the Mercury.
“We’ll see how she feels tomorrow and give her as much time as we can,” the pinnacle coach mentioned of Stewart, who was current throughout Tuesday’s follow with a sleeve on her left leg.
Brondello mentioned the outcomes got here again “relatively clean.”
The uncertainty across the damage raises the query of whether or not Stewart is match to take part in a postseason recreation — or any recreation in any respect.
And when Brondello was requested if Stewart can be a DNP if Wednesday’s recreation was a lower-stakes regular-season recreation, she mentioned: “It’s a great question. Like I said, Stewie, she’s doing OK. We want to make sure she’s good to go in that regard. It’s nice that we didn’t have to play tonight [Tuesday]. I think that helps with an extra day of recovery. And we’re hopeful.”
The damage occurred three minutes earlier than the ultimate buzzer of the Liberty’s Sport 1 additional time win towards the Mercury on Sunday. Stewart rose up for a shot try, landed on her left leg and instantly grabbed her left knee whereas on the hardwood in ache.
She stayed within the recreation, missed her free throw and exited a minute later.
The left knee damage is completely different from the earlier bone bruise damage in Stewart’s proper knee that brought about her to overlook 13 video games over the summer season. Stewart additionally underwent surgical procedure on that proper knee in March.
The Liberty formally listed the 6-4 star as questionable for Sport 2.
On the opposite facet, Nate Tibbetts’ Mercury group is prepared for no matter lineup Brondello deploys for Sport 2.
“I mean, I feel like she will play, but I also feel like we just have to prepare with her or without her, regardless…” Mercury star Satou Sabally mentioned Tuesday at follow.
Minutes later, her head coach supplied the same response on tips on how to put together for the Liberty on Wednesday.
“I think we prepare with her and we prepare without her,” Tibbetts mentioned.
No Stewie means the Liberty can be with out — for no less than a recreation — their 22-point per recreation postseason scorer, which is second in WNBA historical past behind Corridor of Famer Cynthia Cooper.
The group can be with out one in every of its elite defenders as Brondello continues her tailor-made protection round — and in entrance of — do-it-all MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas.
And it additionally raises main doubts for the Liberty’s probabilities to repeat as WNBA champions if the group is ready to get by the Mercury.
Another Liberty win on this best-of-three collection units up a probable second-round best-of-five matchup towards No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx.
However for now, they’ll must get previous the Mercury, who will gameplan for a rotation that is probably not recognized until just a few moments earlier than tip-off.
Throughout Stewart’s 13-game common season absence, a number of gamers crammed her function whereas the group handled a litany of different accidents: Isabelle Harrison, Emma Meesseman, Marine Johannes and Kennedy Burke.
Burke or Meesseman mission to be the possible fill-in starter if Stewart isn’t good to go.
No matter rotation that’s on the court docket could have the job of closing the collection after the Mercury relinquished home-court benefit.
“We’re ready to go,” mentioned Brondello. “Stewie’s in, Stewie’s out, we’re ready to go. … We don’t want to go back to Phoenix, but they’re going to come in hungry. We know that.”
