When the Liberty’s season ended, Brianna Stewart was completely drained. She gave her all on the court, ultimately ending the WNBA offseason dealing with an MCL sprain in her left knee—just one of several lower-body injuries she suffered during a taxing 11-month period. Although the Liberty were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, the silver lining for Stewart is that she now has a chance to rest and focus on her health.
Stewart expressed feeling “really happy” with her current condition as she prepares for her second season with Unrivaled. She took at least a month off from basketball, including some downtime before arriving at the Unrivaled training camp in Miami this week. Stewart did not require any surgery during the offseason but underwent routine platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid injections to manage joint pain, part of her regular maintenance at 31 years old.
Her injury troubles began with a right knee injury during Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals. After a brief break, she battled knee discomfort throughout Unrivaled’s first season. In March, she had a minor meniscus cleaning surgery on her right knee, which delayed her preparation and limited her playing time early in the season. Stewart also missed a month of games after the All-Star break due to a bone bruise in the same knee. The accumulation of injuries and wear took a toll, resulting in one of the most challenging seasons of her career.
Despite this, Stewart was the defensive cornerstone for the Liberty, who performed significantly better with her on the court. Last season, she averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. She led the team in scoring, though her scoring methods differed from past seasons, with about 78.7% of her shots taken within two seconds—higher than her career average of 70.3%. Her field goal shooting was 46.1%, including impressive shooting percentages in restricted areas (74.6%) and the paint (42.9%), and she averaged a career-high 6.5 free throw attempts per game, second only to A’ja Wilson.
However, Stewart’s three-point shooting declined over the past two seasons, hitting a career low of 24.7% last season and attempting the fewest threes of her WNBA career. This drop was likely influenced by her lower-body injuries. Reflecting back, Stewart acknowledged she rushed her return and didn’t allow herself adequate recovery time. She now feels better after stepping back post-season and is focused on regaining her rhythm.
“I’m really happy with where I’m at right now,” Stewart said. Though disappointed with the Liberty’s season outcome, she appreciates the time off to work on her body and get back her fluidity. She aims to return to her best self with Unrivaled, regaining confidence in her shots and finding the rhythm she needs to excel.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for WNBA fans because Stewart is a cornerstone of the Liberty and a dominant presence in the league. Her health and renewed focus could signal a major comeback, potentially elevating both her team’s performance and the overall competitiveness of the WNBA.
