Worth a look on Breanna Stewart: 7th in the WNBA in net Impact this season, +4.3 per 100 possessions — it separates her own effect on the score from the four players next to her.
Jackie Powell
@classicjpow.bsky.social
I have covered Women's basketball for Yahoo Sports, MS NOW, Bleacher Report, NBC Sports more. I cover the New York Liberty for @theixsports.bsky.social & host @theixsportspod.bsky.social Basketball Edition. Obsessed with pop culture and Lady Gaga.
Monday night's score was 95-83 Liberty. Wednesday night's score is 90-84 Liberty with 19.8 seconds left in regulation. Almost identical games in process and result.
The "we want Laney" chants have picked up here in the third quarter. The Liberty lead just 69-65 going into the fourth quarter.
This whole game feels like Deja Vu of Monday. The Liberty give up a big lead to Seattle and then they jump out to another one capitalizing on Seattle Storm turnovers and a lack of Storm transition defense. They lead 62-55 after an Awa Fam three-ball.
Liberty lead just 47-40 going into the second half. Breanna Stewart leads with 13 points followed by Bec Allen with 12 points. Jonquel Jones had 11 rebounds in the first half along with 6 points. Sabrina Ionescu was quiet in the first with just 2 points, 3 rebounds + 3 assists.
According to my binoculars, Clara Wu Tsai is sitting in between Billie Jean King and wait for it: Anna Wintour. Liberty lead early 9-4.
The W is up to 366 games lost due to knee injuries this season. Since the start of the 2023 season, 1284 of 3318 games lost have been because of knee injuries. No other body part has caused 500 cumulative games lost. And these numbers are very likely underestimates because of insufficient reporting.
Tony East@tonyreast.bsky.social · 2d agoJust in from the Fever: Damiris Dantas has a torn meniscus in her left knee. She underwent knee surgery yesterday and will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season.
Our @classicjpow.bsky.social digs into the best defensive performance in a month by the New York Liberty, live from Barclays Center. WATCH: #WNBA youtube.com/shorts/PnMUg...
New York Liberty defend better in win vs. Storm—Han Xu talks step back three against Mercury #wnba
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Post trade deadline the "We Want Laney" chants have returned.
Both Marines are on the floor. Johannès made a huge shot in transition and the Liberty made a bunch of straight shots in transition. You can't get those looks if your defense isn't getting stops and after that timeout they've been more intentional about pushing the ball.
The Liberty tried their zone with Breanna Stewart and Bec Allen at the top of it on that play. What happened? The Storm attempted an open three out of it, Katie Lou Samuelson missed and then Awa Fam rebounded off the miss and got fouled. Liberty lead 67-55.
Jonquel Jones was late to come out from halftime and as a result Han Xu started. I didn't notice it until I saw Dominique Malonga score comfortably on Han Xu. Jones checked in and pretty much immediately hit a three. Liberty lead 60-55 with 6:07 left in the third.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is in the house and got an ovation. I missed it but she got to chat with the Liberty’s big three in Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones in addition to head coach Chris DeMarco.
Every now and then Zia Cooke has these brief stretches where she looks like a real WNBA player. But at some point you actually have to shoot better than 35% from the field. How many years are they going to wait? #WNBA
Kelsey Plum talking to the media for the first time since being traded to the Mercury, confirms that she's available for 20 min tonight. Notes that she hasn't practiced with the team or even played for five weeks: "It's a cocktail for success as far as I'm concerned."
News: The Dallas Wings will play at American Airlines Center for the 2027 season, the team announced. This comes as the franchise prepares to move from Arlington, where it’s played since relocating from Tulsa, to Dallas, where it’s also building a new practice facility.
To explain something mentioned on podcast today: If cap increases by max possible, and Plum signs a 3yr 20% floating supermax (which only Phoenix can offer), it would be 1,582,000/1,740,200/1,914,220, for $5,236,420 total. 3yr regular max would be 1,344,700/1,411,935/1,479,170 for $4,235,805. #WNBA
Her Hoop Stats@herhoopstats.com · 3d agoThe Los Angeles Sparks traded Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury, and the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx put on a classic. @brittanycarper.bsky.social and @richardcohen.bsky.social are here to discuss all of that and more. 🍎 bit.ly/4q3HkA3 📺 youtu.be/p41zT0My6x8
Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart have played side-by-side on the New York Liberty as two of the league's best frontcourt players for nearly four seasons. @classicjpow.bsky.social explains what makes this duo so special. www.theixsports.com/the-ix-baske...
Why Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart are a historic duo | The IX Basketball
The Liberty's Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart represent a historic frontcourt, but can they power New York to another WNBA Finals?
theixsports.com
The usual suspects, Leonie Fiebich and Satou Sabally, remain out for the Liberty tomorrow against the Seattle Storm.
It seems like an appropriate time to share my latest #WNBA spotlight story for NBC Sports and it’s all about the LA Sparks and how they landed in this very position. This was published before the Kelsey Plum trade news last night, but it’s still as relevant as ever.
WNBA Spotlight: Why have the Los Angeles Sparks been stuck in mediocrity?
Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks have been in the news this week for reasons that the franchise probably wouldn’t have predicted almost 550 days ago.
nbcsports.com
Love seeing that clip of Reeve talking to Cunningham. Sort of person that, where possible, wants to educate and explain not just castigate. Yeah, some people are going to be beyond help. But if you can change some minds rather than just write people off, that's a real positive. At least worth a try.
I'm told Kelsey Plum will be with the Mercury in Chicago by their game Monday night, but it is not yet certain whether she'll play. She last appeared for the Sparks on June 21. Phoenix is 11-19, six games back of the last playoff spot, with 14 games remaining
Major deal for the WNBA's top trade target ahead of Sunday's deadline. Plum, a two-time WNBA champion, and the Mercury have shared excitement about the future in Phoenix.
Shams Charania Tweets@shamsbot.bsky.social · 4d agoBREAKING: The Los Angeles Sparks are trading five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first round pick and a 2028 second-rounder, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Sparks are trading five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first round pick and a 2028 second-rounder, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews.
Our @dylankanesports.bsky.social has your immediate analysis of the big move, Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury. WATCH: #wnba youtube.com/shorts/w-U9m...
BREAKING WNBA NEWS: Kelsey Plum traded to Phoenix Mercury, immediate analysis! #wnba
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Phoenix just gave up what will probably be the 2027 #7 pick (with a small chance to be #1 or #2). Just for reference, most recent #WNBA #7 picks: Iyana Martin Aneesah Morrow Angel Reese Grace Berger Veronica Burton Jasmine Walker Ty Harris Kalani Brown Ariel Atkins Brittney Sykes Kahleah Copper
All right, Chris DeMarco throws out the jumbo lineup. Breanna Stewart is now back on the floor for Rebecca Allen.