What happened: Breanna Stewart and Olivia Miles will miss their respective postseason matchups this week. Stewart sits Wednesday with left knee soreness, while a calf issue sidelines Miles for Thursday.
Why it matters: The Stewart absence carries immediate playoff implications for New York. A defeat would lock the Liberty into the eighth seed, eliminating their chance at the sixth spot. Meanwhile, the injury pauses a historic campaign for Miles, who remains the unanimous Rookie of the Year favorite.
By the numbers: Stewart posted 27 points and 14 rebounds on Monday before being downgraded. Miles recently broke the WNBA rookie scoring record prior to her current absence.
What to watch: New York attempts to secure a better playoff seed shorthanded on Wednesday. The league awaits further status updates on the standout rookie guard.