Breanna Stewart sat out with knee soreness and Jonquel Jones injured her ankle days before the Liberty open the WNBA playoffs against Minnesota.
Breanna Stewart sat out the New York Liberty's regular-season finale Wednesday with left knee soreness, and Jonquel Jones left the same game with an ankle injury. Both came four days before New York opens the WNBA playoffs against the Minnesota Lynx.
Liberty coach Chris DeMarco ruled out Stewart before Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Dream, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou. Stewart had talked with reporters after shootaround that morning and did not mention any injury or soreness, The Associated Press reported.
Breanna Stewart Sits With Knee Soreness
The knee started bothering her after a play in Monday's 95-84 loss to Atlanta. Stewart played 37 minutes that night and finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds in New York's third game in four days.
"Some soreness crept in," DeMarco said. "A play from the last game, and didn't wake up feeling great. We got a run here with the playoffs. It's just precautionary with soreness."
"I'm not sure yet on the workload piece or the availability," DeMarco continued. "Hopefully she'll be ready for the playoffs."
Stewart has averaged 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 42 appearances this season. Her 32.9 minutes per game lead the Liberty. She had missed one game earlier this season, and that absence was for rest.
Earlier this month, Stewart played for USA Basketball at the FIBA Women's World Cup. She was named tournament MVP as the United States won its fifth consecutive gold medal.
Jonquel Jones Leaves Finale With Ankle Injury
Jones went down late in the third quarter Wednesday, tweaking her ankle after a 3-point attempt. She did not return. The center finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds in the 83-65 loss.
DeMarco told reporters after the game that Jones was being evaluated and was in good spirits, according to ESPN News Services.
New York scored 7 points in the second quarter without Stewart and trailed by 15 at halftime. Marine Fauthoux came off the bench to lead the Liberty with 14 points.
The loss dropped New York to 26-18 and locked the Liberty into the No. 8 seed. Minnesota took the No. 1 seed Tuesday and entered Thursday at 32-11.
It is DeMarco's first season as the Liberty's coach. New York was 4-4 in late May and 13-11 in mid-July.
Liberty Draw No. 1 Seed Minnesota Lynx
The first-round series is a best-of-three. Minnesota hosts Game 1 on Sunday, New York hosts Game 2, and a Game 3, if needed, would return to Minneapolis.
The Liberty won the most recent meeting between the two teams, 93-81 in Minneapolis on Sept. 18, in a game where New York hounded Olivia Miles full court.
Olivia Miles Also Dealing With Injury
Miles is dealing with her own injury. The rookie point guard, who leads Minnesota in points and assists, was a late scratch for Tuesday's 96-77 loss at Indiana because of a left calf injury. She has been ruled out for Thursday's regular-season finale against the Fever, ESPN's Michael Voepel reported.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve had said Tuesday that Miles would probably be a game-time decision for Thursday. Minnesota clinched the top seed later that night without her.
Game 1 is Sunday in Minneapolis.
