The Liberty's WNBA title defense got off to a decent enough start last weekend, with New York beating Phoenix in overtime, 76-69, to take a 1-0 lead in the playoff series. But the win came with an asterisk for the defending champs.
Two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart was forced to exit the victory early after suffering a knee injury. Stewart missed a good chunk of the regular season with another knee injury, but her most recent ailment is separate from the bone bruise that kept her out for 13 straight games.
When speaking to the media on the matter earlier this week head coach Sandy Brondello didn't give many details but said scans on Stewart's knee were "relatively clean" and she'd be a game-time decision for Wednesday's Game 2.
Ahead of the contest, Stewart did her own media availability and detailed her knee injury, as well as how she's feeling about playing in Game 2.
"They told me that structurally, everything looks OK," Stewart said to reporters during a shootaround at Barclays Center. "So my plan is to go."
Stewart went on to explain that the scans revealed she sprained her MCL and the pain she felt in the moment "scared" her more than anything. She additionally noted that her pain level as of now is at a three out of 10 and assuming the knee feels good after her pregame nap she'll try to play.
The Liberty will need her to eliminate the Mercury and advance. New York went 22-9 in games Stewart started this year, but went 5-8 in the games she missed due to injury. Even if she's hobbled with the MCL sprain the Liberty will be glad to have her out there; Stewart averaged 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds during the regular season.
Game 2 tips off at 8 p.m. ET.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Liberty's Breanna Stewart Gives Details on Knee Injury, Possibility of Playing in Game 2.
