Breanna Stewart has made her presence felt in the Big Apple as she led the New York Liberty to victory in their home opener against the Indiana Fever. The star forward delivered an outstanding performance, scoring an impressive 45 points, all while grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out three assists.
Stewart's remarkable point total was achieved in just three quarters, setting a new franchise record for the Liberty, per ESPN Stats & Info.
What's more impressive, she became the first player in WNBA history to score over 40 points in her home debut with a team. She displayed incredible shooting accuracy, going 15-for-21 from the field, including six successful 3-pointers. In fact, she joined Liz Cambage as the only WNBA players to score 40 points while shooting at least 70 percent from the field.
Additionally, Stewart's outstanding performance marked just the fifth instance of a 45-point double-double in the league's history.
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Liberty Is a Super Team
The arrival of Breanna Stewart in New York was highly anticipated, as she was the top free agent during the offseason. The Liberty quickly gained recognition as a super team by adding Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot to a roster already featuring young talents like Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney. Although the team fell short in their season debut against the Washington Mystics, Stewart's dominant showing in the home opener provided a sense of redemption.
While Stewart accounted for a significant portion of the team's scoring, she received support from her star-studded teammates. Vandersloot, a newcomer to the team, contributed 11 points and eight assists, while returning All-Star Ionescu recorded nine points and eight dimes. The 2021 MVP, Jones, also made her presence felt with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field.
For Stewart, her exceptional performance held a deeper significance. She expressed the importance of playing at such a high level in her debut, aiming to draw in more fans and create a desire for continued support and recognition for women's basketball. Stewart emphasized the need for increased media coverage, fan engagement, and viewership for female athletes.
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