Breanna Stewart Plans to Play Through Knee Injury for Liberty vs. Mercury Game 2

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart intends to play in Game 2 of the team's first-round WNBA playoff series against the Phoenix Mercury.

The two-time MVP suffered a knee injury in the 76-69 Game 1 victory, raising doubt over her status for Wednesday's contest.

"With injury, there's probably always a chance, but I'm willing to take that because I want to, I want to be out with my team," she told reporters. "And they told me that, structurally, everything looks okay. So my plan is to go."

Phoenix pushed New York to the brink, holding the reigning WNBA champions to 21 points in the second half and forcing overtime.

The fact they're matched up against the Mercury is also a sign of how the Liberty's title defense hasn't gone according to plan. They finished seven games worse than the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.

There's no question New York needs Stewart on the floor. She was the team leader in points (18.3) and steals (1.4) and was second in rebounds (6.5) during the regular season.

New York was plus-16 with the 6'4" forward on the floor in Game 1.

Playing through an injury presents an obvious level of risk, though. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals as he was battling through a calf strain.

The Liberty are very early into the postseason, too. At a minimum, they have to play eight more games in order to win a second straight title, and that assumes they sweep their foes in the semifinals and WNBA Finals.

Stewart's MCL sprain is going to remain an ongoing storyline across the entire playoffs.