Breanna Stewart Makes Thoughts on Restriction Very Clear After Knee Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated May 25, 2025 9:46 PM ET

While the attention of much of the WNBA media and fandom has been on the frivolities of hard fouls, shaky debuts, drastically reshapen rosters and what might come in the future, Liberty star Breanna Stewart is very much here and now. She is coming off a WNBA championship in New York in 2024, and spearheading the new offseason Unrivaled 3-on-3 league this winter.

She has helped power the Liberty to a 3-0 start, including the thrilling 90-88 win over the Fever on Saturday in front of a national audience.

But Stewart is also coming off knee surgery in the offseason, an arthroscopic procedure that was a matter of some concern coming into 2025. Stewart was meant to be on a 22-minute restriction coming into the year, she noted. But she has played 27 minutes, 25 minutes and 36 minutes in the Liberty's first three games.

Speaking with former WNBA star Sue Bird and her partner, soccer star Megan Rapinoe on their, "A Touch More," podcast, Stewart gave an update on her health.

"My knee’s good," she said. "I had surgery nine weeks ago. I was supposed to be on a minutes restriction today, it was supposed to be 22 minutes. I was at 22 minutes before I went back in in the fourth. I was like, ‘Eeeeh.’ It’s fine."

In fact, she said, she was never really going to cave to restrictions. When she was told about the restriction, her reaction was stark: "I was like, ‘This is some bull(expletive)."

Of course, the focus in New York is on a repeat, and they are among the favorites to get back to the WNBA Finals, perhaps in a rematch against Minnesota. The Liberty want Stewart at her best in September, not in May, so measuring out her minutes makes some sense.

Getting her to abide restrictions, though, is another matter.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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