The New York Liberty are heading into the WNBA All-Star break with a renewed sense of stability, having secured two consecutive victories. This recent success has led players like Breanna Stewart to believe the team is finally finding its rhythm after a tumultuous first half of the season.
"There was moments where it's like shock," Stewart said, describing the team's early struggles. "You're like, ‘Well, what the f–k are we doing here? Why is this happening?’ " However, following wins against Dallas and the Chicago Sky, Stewart expressed optimism. "Now we're kind of like leveling out a little bit," she stated, likening the team's trajectory to smooth air after turbulence. "And we're like, if this is gonna be us, and this is what we're gonna do, and not too high or too low… and we're not looking too far ahead, we're just looking at the next game."
The Liberty, now 15-12 on the season, have demonstrated resilience in their recent close wins, executing effectively down the stretch. Sabrina Ionescu has been a key contributor, scoring 115 points in the last five games and playing strong defense. Jonquel Jones has recorded a double-double in six of the last seven contests, while Stewart has averaged 26.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in July, shooting 35.3 percent from three-point range over the past five games.
Despite the recent momentum, the Liberty continue to manage injuries, with Satou Sabally (concussion) and Leonie Fiebich (left foot) still sidelined. The team experienced a significant slump earlier, losing eight of ten games, their worst stretch since 2022. This period followed a strong start to the season, which included an eight-game winning streak in early June and winning the Commissioner's Cup.
Stewart and Jones are set to represent the Liberty at the All-Star weekend in Chicago. Ionescu will not participate, having not received an invitation to defend her 3-point contest title and missing out on an All-Star selection for the first time since 2021, a season she largely missed due to injuries.
"It's not over," Stewart cautioned. "The hardships and the struggles that we'll go through this season aren't over." Nevertheless, the recent success provides a welcome respite as the team prepares for the latter half of the season.