Breanna Stewart’s 31 Points Lead Short-Handed Liberty Past Sun in Season Opener Rout.

NEW YORK — Breanna Stewart delivered a dominant season-opening performance with 31 points and 10 rebounds, powering the short-handed New York Liberty to a commanding 106-75 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night. Despite missing several key players, the Liberty came out firing and never looked back. Stewart set the tone early, scoring 10 points in the first quarter while knocking down all four of her shot attempts. New York surged ahead immediately, building a 36-13 lead after the opening frame. Marine Johannes added 17 points for New York, which was without star guard Sabrina Ionescu due to a left foot injury suffered in a preseason game against Connecticut. The Liberty were also missing Rebecca Allen (left leg injury) and Satou Sabally (cyst), both sidelined in the opener following free-agent signings. Forced into a thin rotation, New York signed Julie Vanloo as a hardship addition just a day before tipoff after falling to only seven available players. She made an immediate impact, finishing with 12 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, including seven points in the first quarter alone. The game featured an emotional moment after the first quarter when the Liberty honored former player Kennedy Burke with a tribute video. Now with Connecticut, Burke received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd as she was visibly moved. The Liberty’s early offensive explosion proved too much for the Sun to overcome. New York led 66-37 at halftime, marking its highest-scoring first half in three seasons, and maintained control throughout the remainder of the game. Diamond Miller led Connecticut with 16 points, while Brittney Griner added 13 in her debut for the Sun.

The night also celebrated the league’s 30th anniversary season. The Liberty debuted a retro court design honoring their origins at Madison Square Garden and welcomed back former mascot Maddie. Liberty Ring of Honor member Kym Hampton performed the national anthem, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.