Breanna Stewart Revealed The Real Truth About The Liberty's Shocking Slump, And Phoenix Is Still Searching

Woah, hold up, did you see what's happening back east? The New York Liberty, a team many had pegged for a strong run, is absolutely stumbling at home! They've dropped three straight for the first time since the 2022 season, and their star, Breanna Stewart, isn't sugarcoating it one bit. She basically said, "Nobody expected this," which, yeah, you can say that again. But then she dropped the bomb: "I'm glad (the slump) is happening early and not late." That's a brave take, but you gotta respect the honesty.

Liberty's Home Court Woes Are Getting Real

Look, it's brutal watching any team go through a patch like this. For the Liberty, they just choked away a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against the expansion Portland Fire, losing 81-74. Ouch. Stewart is preaching patience, and you gotta get why. They aren't even at full strength! Four-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu was out for rest after missing the season's first five games with an injured foot, and they didn't want her playing on back-to-back nights. Leonie Fiebich? She's fresh off winning a Spanish League title in Europe, also resting up. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is dealing with a personal matter. And if that wasn't enough, three-time All-Star Satou Sabally only managed four minutes because of illness. All four of those players are listed as day-to-day, so you know they're itching to get back in the game and turn this ship around.

Phoenix Is In The Same Boat, But Nogic Is Lighting It Up

But hey, the drama doesn't stop with New York. Their next opponent, the Phoenix Mercury, is also riding a three-game losing streak! Talk about two teams desperate for a W. Phoenix just got clipped 82-80 at Atlanta on Sunday. This is an older team, no doubt. Alyssa Thomas, at 34, is still a triple-double machine, averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds. Kahleah Copper, 31, is leading them with 18.7 points per game, and 38-year-old DeWanna Bonner is putting up 9.7 points and 5.9 boards. Honestly, it's Jovana Nogic, the 28-year-old undrafted rookie from Serbia, who's been their spark. She's averaging 14.7 points, shooting an insane 93.1% from the free-throw line, and nailing 51.3% of her three-pointers! What a find! The kicker? Phoenix's missing piece is actually Satou Sabally, who bolted to New York as a free agent after the 2025 season. She helped the Mercury go 27-17 last year. Now, they're sitting at a rough 2-5. Coach Nate Tibbetts, in his third season, is still trying to find the positives. He said after Sunday's close loss, "Obviously, we're not into moral victories. But I thought we took a step in the right direction. We battled." You gotta respect the fight, even if the results aren't there. So, what's next? The Liberty continue their seven-game homestand, desperate to snap this ugly streak, and who do they face? The equally struggling Phoenix Mercury. One of these teams is walking away with a much-needed win, and the other is staring down a truly brutal start to the season. You know what that means: expect fireworks. You gotta tune in to see if Stewart's early slump talk pays off or if Phoenix can finally catch a break!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.