What happened

Breanna Stewart poured in 31 points against Minnesota, and the bucket that carried her past 30 did more than pad the box score. It moved her into third place all-time on the WNBA's career list of 30-point games, surpassing Angel McCoughtry. The milestone arrived during New York's matchup with the Lynx.

Why it matters

Reaching third all-time in 30-point outings underscores Stewart's standing among the most prolific scorers in league history. It reinforces her value as the Liberty's offensive engine, the player New York leans on when points are at a premium. Passing a former scoring champion like McCoughtry adds weight to a résumé already stacked with individual honors.

By the numbers

The 31-point night was the total that lifted Stewart past McCoughtry for sole possession of third place on the all-time list of 30-point games. It is another rung climbed on a scoring ladder that keeps her in rare company across the league's history.

What to watch next

The question now is whether Stewart keeps up the scoring pace and how quickly she can close on second place. With her production trending the way it is, the next name on the all-time 30-point list may not stay ahead of her for long.