The New York Liberty needed this one. After stumbling through two straight defeats on the road, Breanna Stewart circled the matchup in Seattle as a turning point. She declared it a must-win, and when the time came, she delivered exactly that.
At Climate Pledge Arena, the Liberty clawed their way to an 84–76 victory over the Storm, a result forged in grit rather than polish. For three quarters, Stewart wrestled with her rhythm, but when the fourth arrived, she authored the kind of finish only superstars can.
She poured in 13 of her 24 points in the last ten minutes, and in that same span, turned away three shots at the rim. Add seven rebounds, four assists, and five total blocks — her season high — and the outline of her night begins to take shape.
Defense First, Offense to Follow
Seattle pressed to clinch a postseason berth, but Stewart stood in the way. Her defensive presence tightened the floor, forcing the Storm into hesitation and rushed possessions. From that foundation, New York found its attack, pushing the ball, driving into space, and trusting the pass.
“I just wanted to do whatever I could for the team,” Stewart explained afterward. “If you make a mistake, if you miss a shot, you can still sprint back on defense. Seattle is a great team, but I wanted to make sure my teammates felt me out there.”
Her teammates did more than notice. “She’s such a huge piece of what we do,” said Kennedy Burke. “It’s amazing watching her be Stewie again.”
Nothing Came Easy
The win did not come without its familiar struggles. New York opened with energy, holding a six-point edge after the first quarter, only to unravel in the second. The Storm piled on 31 points in that frame, sending the Liberty into halftime down by seven.
Jonquel Jones’ foul trouble worsened the problem, her fourth whistle arriving less than a minute into the third quarter. Without her, and already missing Sabrina Ionescu due to a toe injury, the offense sagged inside.
Enter Kennedy Burke. Attacking downhill, she injected pace and urgency into the Liberty’s game, finishing with 13 points off the bench. Leonie Fiebich also found her rhythm, putting up 21 points and helping chip away at the deficit. By the close of the third, a 9–2 surge had shrunk the Storm’s lead to one.
Stewart Closes the Door
With the game hanging in the balance, Stewart seized control. She blocked shots, cleaned the glass, and scored from every angle. Her burst steadied the Liberty and silenced the Seattle crowd.
By the final buzzer, New York had wrestled away a win that felt heavier than the standings alone suggest. The Storm will need to wait another day to lock up their playoff ticket. The Liberty, meanwhile, boarded their bus with a reminder that when Stewart takes command, there is still no storm they cannot weather.
