Breanna Stewart says days off much needed as Liberty head into all-star break
Breanna Stewart is thankful for the days off.
She knows how rare they will be as the Liberty’s season continues.
The third-place team in the WNBA stands at 13-6 and has four days off in between its 87-78 win over the Aces on Tuesday and a Sunday matinee against the Dream.
An all-star for the seventh time in her career, this will be Stewart’s last chance to catch a breath.
Rather than resting during the July 18-19 all-star break, Stewart will be playing on Napheesa Collier’s team under coach Cheryl Reeve.
On Thursday, Stewart took time to hand out meals and wellness goods, as well as sign autographs, for Brooklyn residents affected by food insecurity at St. John’s Bread & Life.
“Incredible,” Stewart said when asked how the break has felt.
Has she needed the time off? “Yeah, yeah,” she said, nodding insistently.
“The days off have been great,” she added. “I feel like we’ve really been in a tough stretch ever since Leo [Leonie Fiebich] and JJ [Jonquel Jones] were first out. Hopefully, soon we will be having everybody back.”
The Liberty had a four-day break last month as well, but it involved travel back from Washington.
Following the All-Star break, the Liberty’s schedule in the new 44-game season has two back-to-backs and anywhere from three to four games a week for the remainder of the regular season, which concludes Sept. 11.
Stewart is soaking in the extra rest at home.
“I don’t think we have another break like this for the rest of the season,” she said. “I think our stretch is pretty wild — end of July into August. But when you have these moments, you have to really take advantage of them and really rest your body.
“A lot of the team was in today [at Barclays Center] doing some individual stuff, getting what you need. People are motivated to be better and that’s the good part.”
The Liberty have taken a skid following their franchise-record 9-0 start, losing six of their past 10 games.
They lost Jones to an aggravated ankle injury that has sidelined her for 10 games, and Fiebich missed seven games to compete in the Eurobasket for Germany and returned in early July.
They also were without Isabelle Harrison (knee) and Natasha Cloud (hip) on Tuesday.
While weathering injuries amid a tight but lengthy schedule has proved to be a challenge, only more will be expected of the reigning champions in their fight for back-to-back titles as the new best-of-seven WNBA Finals series potentially awaits.
“What we are paying attention to [during this break] is just defense, making sure we are all on the same page,” Stewart said. “If we’re going to have different lineups based on who’s available, just building that chemistry in practice knowing that everything has to be sharp because we’re limited [in] roster size.
“Hopefully, that’ll change by Tuesday, I don’t know. But just making sure we put a conscious effort to be where we are right this second. Two more games until the All-Star break and we need both of them.”
Nearly halfway through her third year with the Liberty, Stewart is clearly thankful to serve in the Brooklyn community.
Standing at the window of a food truck, she greeted fans in an apron while passing out meals and happily taking photos.
“Ever since I came here, I really wanted to be making an impact in the community,” she said. “Especially, you see the games now, it’s like 17 to 18,000 people cheering for us. The community really putting on for us and supporting us.
“I want to have that same feeling throughout the season but also in the offseason. Because a lot of people just need a helping hand…hopefully, there will be many more of these.”