Stewart Continues Hot Streak, Andre Jackson Jr. Signs a deal with the Toronto Raptors

Katie Lou Samuelson/Stefanie Dolson at Breanna Stewart

The New York Liberty (19-13) swept a mini two-game home series against the Seattle Storm (6-27) this past Monday and Wednesday with Breanna Stewart playing a major role in both matchups.

On Monday, Stewart scored a team-high 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. She also added eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks and did not commit a turnover in a 95-83 New York victory. It is the first time since July 11th, 2024 that Stewie accounted for at least six assists with zero turnovers.

Then on Wednesday, Stewart poured in a team-high 28 points on 12-of-22 from the field, including 1-of-4 from three and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Stewie also collected eight rebounds, two assists and one block in a 92-86 Liberty win. 

The two-time WNBA MVP has been playing like one lately. Over her last seven games, Stewart is averaging 24.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. The Liberty are 6-1 during that span.

After the win on Wednesday, Stewart was asked about her impact other than just on the scoreboard:

Stefanie Dolson scored five points in the Monday matchup and was held scoreless on Wednesday, while Katie Lou Samuelson recorded four points and two points, respectively, in the Storm's two losses.

Kia Nurse at Golden State Huskies

The Golden State Valkyries (21-9) erased a 13-point first-half deficit and took down the Toronto Tempo (10–20) for the second time in as many games on Tuesday night, 92-81. Two days after taking down the Tempo 96-79, Tiffany Hayes led all Husky scorers with 12 points, four assists and a season-high four steals off the bench. Gabby Williams finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Kiah Stokes scored seven points with seven rebounds and two blocks and Kaityln Chen contributed with two points and two assists. Kia Nurse did not play for the Tempo due to a coach’s decision.

Stokes recorded the first offensive contribution by a Husky after kicking the ball out while being double-teamed to an open Kayla Thornton, who knocked down a three-pointer to give Golden State a 9-2 lead. Just over one minute later, Stokes connected on her own three-pointer for a 12-5 lead with 6:20 left in the first quarter.

The second quarter is when the Tempo jumped out to a double-digit lead until Williams took a head of steam into the lane for a layup off the glass to cut the deficit to nine, 38-29. Hayes checked into the game for the final three minutes of the first half and made an immediate impact. The 2024 Sixth Player of the Year accounted for eight points on two free throws and two assists that led to a pair of three-pointers and closed the gap to 42-41 at halftime.

In the second half the Husky quartet helped the Valkyries take the lead for good, starting with back-to-back layups from Williams to extend the Golden State lead to 48-42 with 8:38 left in the third quarter. Later in the frame, Chen was doubled team off a pick and roll, but she was still able to find Janelle Salun for the layup and an eight point advantage. Stokes opened the fourth quarter with a hook shot followed by another assist from Hayes and then a layup by Hayes to push the Valkyries lead to 10, 76-68.  A few minutes later, Hayes split two Tempo defenders for a layup, extending Golden State's largest lead of the game to 13 points, 83-70.

Hayes has now scored in double digits in three straight games for the first time this season.

Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd

The Dallas Wings (19-12) led by as many as 20 points with three minutes to go in the third quarter, but the Washington Mystics (17-12) stormed back to shock the Wings, 96-92 on Wednesday night in Washington D.C.

Paige Bueckers scored 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. She also had five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Azzi Fudd scored nine points on 2-of-8 shooting with three assists and three steals. Fudd has now been held to single digits in two of the last three games.

It’s the second double-digit game that the Wings have given away in a week as they led the Atlanta Dream in the second half last Wednesday, but ended up dropping that contest 92-91.

Andre Jackson Jr.

Andre Jackson Jr. signed a training camp deal with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday per @hoopshype/X. The 2022-2023 National Champion was a free agent for the first time in his NBA career this offseason after the Milwaukee Bucks did not exercise his fourth-year team option. It will be a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, meaning the deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed NBA minimum salary agreement that allows the Raptors to retain his G League rights if they decide to waive him.

Assuming the Kawhi Leonard trade is eventually completed, the Raptors will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts. This leaves one open regular season roster spot that must be filled before the beginning of the 2026-2027 regular season. 

So Jackson Jr. will have to impress the Raptors coaching staff to earn himself a roster spot. Some opposing names to look out for are forward Trey Jamison plus guards Chucky Hepburn and Jayden Bradley, who are all on two-way contracts with Toronto.

Azura Stevens (Chicago Sky)

• Missed last four games due to personal reasons

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