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New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart added another historic achievement to her decorated career Thursday night, though the celebration never fully arrived inside Barclays Center. While the Liberty struggled to match the energy and defensive pressure of the Golden State Valkyries , Stewart quietly climbed past one of the franchise’s most respected names in the record books during an otherwise frustrating evening for New York.

The Liberty entered the matchup hoping to build momentum after a lengthy break following their win over the Portland Fire. Instead, the rust showed almost immediately. Golden State controlled the pace, forced turnovers, and never allowed New York to settle comfortably into its offense. By halftime, the Valkyries already looked sharper. The third quarter only widened the gap as the visitors tightened their grip on the game.

Breanna Stewart achieves major career milestone, overtakes Becky Hammon despite defeat

Even during the loss, Breanna Stewart still found a way to leave her mark on Liberty history.


According to ESPN Insights, Stewart passed Becky Hammon for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. The milestone came in just 114 games since Stewart joined New York in 2023, an impressive pace considering the names attached to Liberty history.

Hammon spent years serving as the face of the organization after joining the franchise in 1999. The former Liberty guard developed into a three-time All-Star in New York before later transitioning into coaching, where she eventually guided the Las Vegas Aces to multiple championships.

Stewart’s impact has been just as transformative for New York. After arriving from the Seattle Storm in free agency, she helped reshape the Liberty into title contenders alongside Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. That journey reached its peak last season when New York secured its first WNBA championship .

Thursday’s performance reflected Stewart’s consistency even on an off night for the team. She finished with 18 points and nine rebounds while continuing to carry much of the offensive load.

Liberty faces a devastating 17-point defeat against Valkyries

Golden State deserved full credit for disrupting nearly everything New York tried offensively.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 16 points and knocked down four three-pointers, while Veronica Burton added 13 points and seven assists. Kaila Charles also chipped in 13 points in another strong all-around effort.


The Valkyries set the tone early by forcing seven turnovers in the opening quarter alone. New York never fully recovered from that shaky start. Golden State then delivered its best stretch after halftime, holding the Liberty to just 12 points in the third quarter while repeatedly turning defense into easy transition opportunities.

The absence of Ionescu also continued to loom large. The Liberty guard remains sidelined with a foot injury, while newly acquired Satou Sabally made her long-awaited debut after recovering from a concussion suffered during last year’s playoffs. Sabally finished with five points in limited minutes as she continues working back into game condition.