Despite being one of the top teams, the defending champs didn’t have the advantage of playing on their home court this time. Since the Liberty finished with the same record as the Mercury, Phoenix earned the edge by virtue of its 3-1 head-to-head record in the regular season.

So, when the Mercury entered PHX Arena in front of the X-Factor crowd, everyone knew it wouldn’t be a one-sided game. And it truly wasn’t. Both teams pulled through, with the score tied at 65-65, and with just one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, neither side could convert. The game went into OT, but then something happened that nobody expected!

Breanna Stewart went down.

As the NY Liberty were on the ball side, Sabrina Ionescu worked her magic at the top. She slipped a pass to Breanna Stewart after Jonquel Jones set a perfect screen that cleared just enough space. It was the kind of setup Stewie thrives on—wide open, eyes locked on the rim, ready to take over with just three minutes left. She went for a layup—and she made it count too—but in a split second, everything changed. Colliding with DeWanna Bonner and Satou Sabally, Stewie went down awkwardly. As she held her left knee tight, the pain was visible in her expression.

The crowd fell silent, and her teammates and staff rushed toward her. After a couple of minutes, she got back up and walked toward the bench on her own. But she never returned to the court. And while the Liberty won Game 1 by 76-69, all eyes stayed on an update about Stewie’s health.

Well, that’s because the 2025 season hasn’t been very kind to Stewie. She missed nearly a month with a bone bruise suffered after a game against the LA Sparks on July 25. It wasn’t until a month later, on August 25 against the Sun, that she finally made her return after missing 13 games.

This time, while it isn’t the same leg, we still don’t have any update on the extent of the injury. All Sandy Brondello had to say at the moment was that the 30-year-old star will be evaluated by the medical staff. She did say that Stewie expressed pain and discomfort, and even requested to be checked out before being spotted walking through the locker room with a knee brace. So, anything could happen, but it is the least favorable outcome at this moment.

Especially since the 6’4″ forward brings eight years of experience to the court. She stretches defenses with her shooting ability while anchoring NY’s defensive schemes with her length and rim protection. Part of the Liberty’s trio, she even leads the team with 18.3 points per game this season while adding 6.5 rebounds per game.

Even today, she played all 40 minutes of the game, piling up 18 points and six rebounds. She went 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line. So yes, the entire situation is concerning—especially since the Liberty’s season hasn’t been worry-free.

Injuries had already tested Liberty’s depth!

With there being 44 games now, the schedule’s been quite tiring for all 13 teams this season. As a result, many players have gone down with injuries, and even the Liberty have not been spared. As Sandy Brondello put it best, “I’ve been in this league for quite some time as a player and a coach, and I don’t think I’ve ever been in this situation with so many players in and out. Especially your key players,” she said before the season finale against the Chicago Sky.

And considering the Liberty’s injury list, it all made perfect sense. It all began with Jonquel Jones, who missed almost two weeks with a sprained ankle. Just when it seemed she was back with full strength, she re-aggravated the injury. Then it was Breanna Stewart, out for a month with a bone bruise, before Natasha Cloud missed a game after breaking her nose.

But the struggles didn’t stop here. Sabrina Ionescu and Nyara Sabally also dealt with setbacks, though both returned at a critical time. Sabally was limited to just 17 games all year, while Ionescu missed four because of a toe injury. Yet, just before the playoffs began, Sabally confirmed she was ready for the “built up” after her first game back against Washington in the final week.

And here she is, helping Stewie in pick-and-rolls, in Game 1 of the playoffs. But whether she can continue to do that in Wednesday’s game remains to be seen. Especially since the upcoming matchup is going to be intense. While the Liberty won Game 1, it won’t be easy, as the Mercury proved themselves in the regular season. So, the challenge is quite clear for Liberty, but so is hope!