Breanna Stewart scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the short-handed New York Liberty routed the Connecticut Sun 106-75 on Friday in the season opener.
Breanna Stewart scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the New York Liberty opened the 2026 season with a 106-75 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night at Barclays Center.
Marine Johannes added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, and went 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Julie Vanloo, signed as a hardship player one day before the game, posted 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists in her Liberty debut. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton chipped in 12 points and 4 assists.
The Liberty raced to a 36-13 lead after the first quarter and went into halftime up 66-37, their highest-scoring first half in three years. New York shot 52.2% from the field and went 26-of-31 at the free-throw line in front of a sellout crowd of 17,615.
Stewart finished 10-of-17 from the field and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line in 28 minutes. She added 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. She also had 9 defensive rebounds.
Stewart scored 10 points in the first quarter alone and made all 4 of her field-goal attempts in the opening frame.
Vanloo, signed Thursday after the Liberty were reduced to 7 available players, went 3-of-4 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Her 11 assists led all players. She also added 1 steal across 22 minutes.
Vanloo scored 7 of her 12 points in the first quarter.
The Liberty marked the WNBA's 30th anniversary as one of the league's eight original franchises. New York used a retro court design from the franchise's tenure at Madison Square Garden, brought back former mascot Maddie, and had Liberty Ring of Honor member Kym Hampton sing the national anthem.
After the first quarter, the Liberty played a tribute video for Kennedy Burke, who spent multiple seasons in New York before signing with Connecticut this offseason. Burke received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd.
Burke finished with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 24 minutes.
New York played without three rotation players. Starting guard Sabrina Ionescu is out with a left foot injury sustained in last Sunday's preseason game against the Sun. Rebecca Allen is dealing with a left leg injury, and offseason free-agent addition Satou Sabally missed the game while recovering from a cyst.
Diamond Miller led Connecticut with 16 points and 3 rebounds on 6-of-16 shooting. Aneesah Morrow added 15 points and 6 rebounds, and Brittney Griner finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists on 6-of-11 shooting in her Sun debut.
Connecticut shot 38.6% from the field and went 4-of-22 from 3-point range. The Sun also committed 17 turnovers that led to 24 New York points.
Connecticut played without Aaliyah Edwards (left thigh) and Shey Peddy (left lower leg).
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