Liberty star Breanna Stewart avoided serious injury in loss to Sparks: Source

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart avoided significant leg injury during Saturday's 101-99 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, as confirmed by league sources. Stewart sustained the apparent injury less than four minutes into the game while transitioning up the court, prompting an immediate timeout from coach Sandy Brondello. She exited to the locker room before the first quarter ended.

Post-game, Brondello provided no immediate update on Stewart's status, only expressing hope for her recovery. The matchup marked New York's second consecutive game after defeating Phoenix the previous night, where Stewart recorded a season-low 6 points. Stewart had commented on fatigue concerns pre-game, noting she needed to "get my legs back" despite limited rest.

Los Angeles secured victory through Rickea Jackson's game-winning flip layup at the buzzer, capping their fifth consecutive win. Jackson scored a team-high 24 points and emphasized avoiding overtime, stating, "I’m willing to do whatever that takes." Multiple Sparks contributed significantly: Dearcia Hamby (17 points, 10 rebounds), Azurá Stevens (17 points, 11 rebounds), and Kelsey Plum (20 points, 8 assists). Coach Lynne Roberts praised her team's resilience, saying, "We bent but didn’t break."

Despite Sabrina Ionescu's 30-point performance and Natasha Cloud's 22 points with 9 assists, New York's five-game win streak ended. The Liberty briefly led early but trailed by up to 15 points before tying repeatedly in the fourth quarter, ultimately falling short.