Liberty F Breanna Stewart back after 13-game layoff

All-Star forward Breanna Stewart will return to the New York Liberty lineup on Monday night after missing 13 games with a knee injury.

Stewart confirmed after shootaround Monday morning that she will be on the floor for the game against the visiting Connecticut Sun.

"Yeah, I'm going tonight. I just want to be back with my team, and I'll try and help make things a little bit easier on all fronts and know that this is important for our playoff push," Stewart said, per Winsidr. "I took the time I needed and was on the training staff for the entire four weeks, but happy to be back."

Stewart, who turns 31 on Wednesday, has been sidelined since sustaining a bone bruise in her right knee in a July 26 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

The two-time WNBA MVP and seven-time All-Star is averaging 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 24 starts this season.

The defending champion Liberty (22-15) were 5-8 in Stewart's absence and have slipped to fifth place in the league standings entering their clash with the Sun (9-27) in Brooklyn.

Stewart's return comes as New York deals with injuries to co-stars Sabrina Ionescu (foot) and Natasha Cloud (nose), who are both considered day-to-day.