Breanna Stewart bounced back from a subpar performance with a dominant 28-point, 14-rebound, and 7-assist game, leading the New York Liberty to an 89-71 win over the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury played without star center Brittney Griner, who is sidelined with a hip injury.

Stewart expressed her focus on starting aggressively and setting the tone for her team. She acknowledged her previous poor shooting performance, attributing it to the natural ebb and flow of the game.

Griner's absence marked her second consecutive missed game due to the hip injury sustained against Seattle. A video tribute to Griner during the first timeout elicited a warm standing ovation from the crowd, who had anticipated her potential first game in New York since her return from detainment in Russia.

The sellout crowd of 9,278 also witnessed the Liberty playing without Sabrina Ionescu, who is nursing a hamstring injury. The Mercury faced their own challenges, missing both Griner and Diana Taurasi due to injury.

Stewart, who struggled in her previous game against Atlanta, displayed her offensive versatility, scoring both inside and outside. Her 23 first-half points propelled New York to a commanding 53-34 halftime lead.

Phoenix managed to narrow the gap to 72-64 early in the fourth quarter, fueled by a 9-point burst from Sophie Cunningham. However, Stewart halted the Mercury's run with a free throw, followed by a Betnijah Laney jumper, restoring a double-digit advantage for the Liberty and securing the victory.

Despite the loss, Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard praised her team's resilience and competitive spirit. Cunningham led the scoring for Phoenix with 27 points.