Liberty triumphs over Fever, largely due to Breanna Stewart's impressive 24-point performance, in a match where Caitlin Clark was absent.
Breanna Stewart, star forward for the New York Liberty, has undergone a significant transformation in her shot profile this WNBA season, focusing on efficiency and shorter-range shooting near the rim. This strategic shift has positively impacted her overall scoring efficiency, despite struggles from long distance.
Coach Walt Lange believes that Stewart's 3-point numbers will increase again, but for now, her performance inside the paint is more than enough. Stewart's shooting percentage within eight feet of the rim is an impressive 72.1%, including an outstanding 83.3% in the restricted area. This indicates that the majority of her scoring comes from high-percentage shots close to the basket.
To support this focus on close-range efficiency, Stewart's average shot distance has dropped to a career-low 11.0 feet this season, compared to her career average of 12.8 feet. This shift shows that she is prioritizing shots closer to the rim over midrange or long-range attempts.
The reduction in three-point attempts is also evident, with Stewart averaging just 2.9 per game, well below her previous career low and far under her career average of 4.6 threes per game. However, Stewart has struggled significantly with three-point shooting this season, making only 8 of 38 attempts, a 21.1% success rate, well below her career average of 35.3%.
Despite these struggles from beyond the arc, Stewart's increased efficiency near the rim and ability to score on assisted baskets have helped maintain her offensive effectiveness. In fact, most of her made shots (78.4%) are assisted, indicating she is benefiting from good offensive sets and team play to get easier looks closer to the basket.
Stewart's new-look approach to the game is not a result of pre-season work, but rather an adjustment to the offense on the fly. Her teammate, Natasha Cloud, believes that Stewart's current performance is more than enough for success. The timeline for the improvement of Stewart's 3-point numbers is uncertain, with possibilities ranging from this season to 2026 or another year.
In a recent game against the Indiana Fever, Stewart topped 20 points for just the third time in the past nine games, scoring 24 points in a 98-77 win. Stewart's 10 makes all occurred inside the paint, demonstrating the success of her focus on close-range shooting. The Liberty's defense also limited the Fever to 36.8% shooting, while the team shot 57.8% from the field.
Stewart's strong performance this season, despite her struggles from three, has been notable. A statline similar to Stewart's has only been compiled by Candace Parker in WNBA history, according to StatMuse. Sabrina Ionescu also had a strong game, contributing 15 points and a season-high nine assists.
As Stewart continues to adapt her shot profile and overcome her struggles from three-point range, she remains a dominant scorer and key player for the Liberty. People were trying to count Stewart out at the start of the season, but her resilience and adaptability have proven that she is a force to be reckoned with in the WNBA.
Breanna Stewart's focus on efficiency has led her to take more shots near the rim, with an impressive 72.1% shooting percentage within eight feet and 83.3% in the restricted area. This shift towards close-range shooting is a key part of her new-look approach to the game, and despite her struggles from long distance, she remains a dominant scorer for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
