Breanna Stewart’s 42-Point Performance Leads New York Liberty to Victory

INDIANAPOLIS — Breanna Stewart put on a show, scoring 30 of her 42 points in the first half to lead the New York Liberty to a 100-89 victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday. With this win, the Liberty set a new franchise record for the most wins in a season.

New York has been on fire lately, winning six games in a row and 10 of its past 11. Their dominant performance in this game was spearheaded by Stewart’s incredible scoring display.

Stewart’s 42 points were not only impressive but also historic. She became the first player in WNBA history to score at least 40 points in three games in a single season. Only Diana Taurasi (four times) and Maya Moore (three times) have achieved this feat in their careers.

But Stewart’s impact was not limited to scoring. She also contributed with six rebounds and six assists, making her the first player in league history to have multiple games with 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“I was getting some good looks,” Stewart said. “They were switching a lot, just continuing to read what the defense gave me. And that just kind of continued throughout [the game].”

Stewart received ample support from her teammates as well. Jonquel Jones had a solid performance with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Betnijah Laney and Sabrina Ionescu contributed with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Despite Courtney Vandersloot’s struggles shooting the ball, she managed to make a significant impact with 14 assists.

Speaking of Ionescu, she joined an elite group by hitting two 3-pointers in the game. This achievement brought her total number of made 3-pointers this season to 101, placing her alongside Taurasi and Kelsey Plum as the only players in WNBA history to reach the 100-plus 3s mark in a single season.

On the other side, Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell and Erica Wheeler led the way with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith also had notable performances, combining for 32 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists.

With this victory, the New York Liberty continue their dominant run and demonstrate their prowess as a top team in the WNBA. Their impeccable record and stellar performances from players like Breanna Stewart prove that they are serious contenders for the championship title.

It remains to be seen how far they can go in the playoffs, but one thing is clear — their opponents should be wary of the New York Liberty’s unstoppable momentum.

[The Associated Press contributed to this report.]