Stewart nets 18, hurts knee in Liberty's G1 win

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart will be examined by the team's medical staff after suffering an apparent left knee injury in overtime of her team's 76-69 win against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of their WNBA first-round series.

Stewart suffered the injury with 3:01 left in the extra period when she pushed off the ground for a layup attempt against Phoenix's Satou Sabally and DeWanna Bonner. As Stewart went up, she already appeared to be grimacing, and as she hit the court, she immediately grabbed at her left knee.

Stewart initially stayed in the game, but Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said that she asked to be subbed out after feeling "discomfort." After Stewart took a seat on the bench, she looked visibly in pain, with water swelling up in her eyes.

Brondello didn't have any updates on Stewart after the game. Stewart finished the game with 18 points.

"We're just hoping that she will be OK," Brondello said.

Stewart missed 13 games during the regular season due to a bone bruise on her right knee, and in March, she had a scope done on her right knee as well.

Despite Stewart's exit, New York managed to hold just enough to take Game 1 and steal home court from the Mercury.

Cloud, who played in Phoenix last season, made back-to-back layups to give the Liberty a two-point lead with 4:17 left in the fourth quarter. Copper answered with two free throws and, after a turnover by Sabrina Ionescu, Thomas dropped a no-look pass to Copper for a wide-open layup that gave the Mercury a 65-63 lead with 1:44 remaining.

Stewart then made a tough basket in the lane 13 seconds later that eventually forced overtime.

"We looked around and realized we kind of have been in that position before," Sabrina Ionescu said. "Understanding how important overtime is and knowing we had another gear to get to. I'm proud of the way we stuck together, we weathered the runs they went on, and ultimately found a way to win."

Cloud hit a 3-pointer to open the OT and spark an 8-0 run that made it 73-65 with 1:51 left. Phoenix got within four, but Leonie Fiebich, who finished with 10 points, hit a huge 3-pointer to seal the win.

"She had missed some early on, but I knew she was going to hit the biggest one of the night," Ionescu said about Fiebich's shot. "It's what she does ... she's one of the best 3-point shooters in the world."

The Liberty, who averaged 13.8 turnovers in the regular season, finished with 20 turnovers -- one shy of their season high -- which included 14 after halftime.

Brondello said she knew this series against the Mercury would be a slug fest that would have to be won blow by blow. Relying on their postseason experience and championship pedigree was an X-factor, but Brondello pointed to her team's defense as the Liberty's highlight on Sunday.

The Mercury made 25 of 77 (33%) from the field and shot 23% (6 of 26) from 3-point range.

Now, the Liberty return home to New York, where they will have an opportunity to sweep the series in Game 2 and advance to the semifinals for the second season in a row.

They will have to wait and see if Stewart will be available to help them, but either way, they do not want to let the opportunity to close this series out quickly pass them by.

"We have the advantage," Brondello said. "We won on their home court and now the advantage is for us to take care of it. This is an experienced team, and we've been here before. We know what our goal is, and we want to keep playing."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.