Stewart also led the Liberty with 12 rebounds, making it a double-double in her home debut for New York in front of a crowd of 8,575 in Brooklyn. Stewart’s and the Liberty’s early efforts helped secure the win, even as scoring slowed in the fourth quarter.
“It was really important to play like this in my debut, because I want people to be here and I want them to come back and I want more,” said Stewart. “I want more of everything and yeah it sounds selfish, but as a woman’s basketball player, as a female athlete we need to continue to kinda get recognized for more in a lot of different ways: in and media coverage, in fans and eyes and viewership.”
Stewart is no stranger to success as a 2x WNBA champion. Stewart announced she signed with the New York Liberty Feb. 1, 2023. Nicknamed “Stewie”, the Syracuse native and 2018 WNBA MVP. Aside from the 12 rebounds she had three assists and one steal.
The New York Liberty started their home opener against the Indiana Fever strong with fast play, scoring and defense. New York was ahead 36-14 at the end of the first quarter. Stewie led the quarter with 19 points.
By halftime the Liberty led 62- 35. The crowd chanted MVP for Stewart as the clock wound down in the third quarter as she reached 45 points. The Liberty were ahead 85-55 at the start of the fourth quarter, but started to fall off. They were out-scored 18-5 in the quarter alone.
Stewart said she didn’t realize that she had broken the franchise record, but looked up and saw 37 points. She almost broke the record for most points scored in a WNBA single-game. Liz Cambage set the record with 53 points Jul 17, 2018.
“We talked about it,” said teammate Courtney Vandersloot about helping Stewie get there. “Then it starts to become like we’re forcing it a little. The other team I’m sure knows, so it’s difficult, but she doesn’t really need a lot of help.”
Vandersloot finished with 11 points and Jonquel Jones added with 14 points for the Liberty. Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty each with eight assists.
For Indiana, NaLyssa Smith led the team with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Aliyah Boston added 15 points and four rebounds. Boston was Selected by the Fever as the 1st overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft.
Coach Brondello said they are not where they want to be about the fourth quarter, but the was pleased with the early efforts and final outcome.
“We still got some things we need to keep getting better at,” she said. “We have Breanna Stewart and they don’t I suppose. That’s how it comes down to. She was really special tonight.”
The Liberty evened their record to 1-1 record and next take on the Connecticut Sun back at home Saturday afternoon.
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