NEW YORK — The final basket of Breanna Stewart’s 34-point clinic on Sunday to open the WNBA semifinals was never going to be blocked. Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson tried — elevating as high as she could as the seconds ticked down on both the shot and game clock — but the New York Liberty star skied over Wilson’s outstretched arms.
With just over a minute remaining in New York’s eventual 87-77 victory, Stewart elevated for a runner. A step in front of the free throw line, she leaped, flicked the basketball with her right hand and watched it carom off the backboard and drop into the hoop.
Stewart ran back down down the floor emphatically nodding her head after her basket served as a delightful dagger enjoyed by the sellout Barclays Center crowd of more than 14,000 fans.
New York puts the dagger in Game 1 😤
Stewie floater.
Jonquel MONSTER block.#WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/TuFCI6x75T— WNBA (@WNBA) September 29, 2024
What happened next wasn’t surprising either. Stewart deflected a layup by Aces guard Kelsey Plum.
Stewart’s arms were everywhere on Sunday — during that late-game sequence, on numerous New York offensive possessions in which she knocked down nearly unguardable mid-range jumpers, on defensive switches and when her arms…
