Breanna Stewart Scores 31 Points in Season-Opening Win

Breanna Stewart recorded a double-double with 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists and three steals in the season opener on May 8, 2026 at Barclays Center. The performance came in a 106-75 victory after the team was left with only seven available players because Sabrina Ionescu was sidelined with a foot injury, Satou Sabally was out with a cyst and three other players were unavailable.

The team signed guard Julie Vanloo and forward Aubrey Griffin on hardship contracts less than 24 hours before the game. With the roster in flux, Stewart stepped up in a game that carried added expectations for a strong start to the season. Stewart also contributed on defense with three steals and provided steady leadership.

A teammate described her all-around impact after the game. >"Stewie was great all around. In every category across the board, she was great. com) Stewart missed a month of last season with a bone bruise in her knee. The team struggled during her absence.

She sprained the MCL in her left knee in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series but still played in the series, after which the team was eliminated before the WNBA Finals.

This season Stewart returned healthy.

She said she is feeling back to herself and wants to be aggressive on the court. “I’m feeling back to myself, for sure, so I think it’s just being aggressive. I’m not chasing an MVP or anything like that, but I just want to be my best and I want to be great every single year that I’m playing,” Stewart said.

She scored 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first quarter. For the full game she reached the 30-point mark, a total she achieved only twice during the previous regular season. Jonquel Jones attributed part of the performance to improved floor spacing in the revamped offense, which created better movement and options.

The opponent was a young team with all but three players born in the 2000s and projected to miss the playoffs. The season-opening result set an early standard for the team with Stewart leading the way on both scoring and leadership.