1 month ago
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Breanna Stewart needed only three quarters to turn the New York Liberty’s matchup against the Toronto Tempo into a rout. Stewart scored 27 points as New York rolled to a 106-69 victory. She produced 14 points during the third quarter, converting five consecutive shots during the game’s decisive stretch.
The margin allowed Liberty coach Chris DeMarco to rest his starters for the entire fourth quarter. With the postseason approaching, that may have been nearly as valuable as the victory.
DeMarco called Stewart the “best player in the world” after watching her dismantle Toronto’s defense.
Stewart supplied a compelling argument. She scored efficiently, attacked mismatches and ensured the Liberty never gave Toronto a realistic path back into the game. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, New York’s most important players already had completed their work.
Stewart finds another level after halftime
The Liberty have spent much of the season balancing immediate results with the larger objective of entering the playoffs healthy and connected.
Sunday’s performance checked every box. New York surpassed 100 points without extending Stewart or the other starters into unnecessary late-game minutes. The offense generated quality shots, the defense steadily widened the gap and the bench received an entire quarter of meaningful playing time.
Stewart’s third-quarter run was the centerpiece.
Toronto could not disrupt her rhythm once she began scoring from multiple areas. She punished single coverage, found openings before help defenders could arrive and never allowed the Tempo to settle into a workable matchup.
The resulting 37-point margin was New York’s clearest possible response to questions about its playoff readiness. The Liberty will complete the regular season with two games against the Atlanta Dream, a considerably more demanding opponent that also is preparing for the playoffs.
Those games should provide New York with a more accurate postseason test. Sunday still demonstrated what the Liberty can become when Stewart controls the action.
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Liberty’s timing could not be better
New York does not need Stewart to score 27 points in three quarters every night. The Liberty need the threat of that performance to dictate how opponents defend the rest of their lineup. When Stewart is operating at this level, help defenders must leave other shooters or risk allowing her to attack one-on-one coverage. That dilemma creates open perimeter attempts, driving lanes and secondary scoring opportunities.
The timing of Sunday’s performance matters.
A dominant game early in the season is encouraging. The same performance with the playoffs days away can change how a potential opponent prepares for an entire series. New York also avoided paying a physical price for the victory. Stewart and the other starters watched the fourth quarter from the bench, preserving valuable energy for the upcoming games against Atlanta and the postseason beyond them.
DeMarco’s description of Stewart was definitive. Her performance was even more convincing.
The Liberty’s championship hopes still depend on consistency, health and execution during close games. A blowout victory over Toronto cannot answer every postseason question. It did provide an important reminder.
Whenever Stewart takes control, New York’s ceiling remains as high as any team in the WNBA.
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