As Sunday’s WNBA second playoff round gets underway, the Storm will be without forward Breanna Stewart during their matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Seattle announced Saturday.
Mercury guard Diana Taurasi is also listed as questionable for the single-elimination game, which is set for 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Team USA teammates have been out since early September. Stewart suffered an injury to her left foot, while Taurasi is dealing with a left ankle injury.
Stewart was the WNBA Finals MVP last year as Seattle won their fourth league title. This season, Stweart, who last played on Sept. 7, has averaged team highs of 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Three-time WNBA champion Taurasi, who didn’t play in any regular-season games between the Storm and Mercury, has played in just 16 contests this season due to injuries.
The No. 4-seeded Storm had a first-round bye; No. 5 seed Phoenix beat No. 8 New York 83-82 on Thursday. Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham had a standout game, with a career-high 21 points, including six 3-pointers, which helped Phoenix defeat the Liberty in Taurasi’s absence.
The season will have to end for one of the veterans on Sunday.
The Seattle Storm Injury Report Presented by @Swedish in advance of Sunday’s second-round game vs the Phoenix Mercury: Breanna Stewart (left foot) - OUT#TakeCover #RoadToRecovery pic.twitter.com/rdSTZu7veM— Seattle Storm PR (@SeattleStormPR) September 25, 2021
The Seattle Storm Injury Report Presented by @Swedish in advance of Sunday’s second-round game vs the Phoenix Mercury: Breanna Stewart (left foot) - OUT#TakeCover #RoadToRecovery pic.twitter.com/rdSTZu7veM