We all know Stewie doesn’t need free throws to take over a game. Remember June ’23? She dropped 32 points without a single trip to the line. It was the same night the Liberty made franchise history. They had back-to-back 100-point games for the first time ever. That win over Dallas was a milestone. Now, fast forward two years, and Breanna Stewart’s back in the headlines. However, this time, it’s the opposite story. And yeah, she’s got some things to say about it.

Breanna Stewart’s statement just adds to the ongoing controversy about poor officiating. One of the Liberty has quietly been on the favorable side of, more than once. Take their game against Indiana a few weeks ago. Sabrina Ionescu drew a late foul on Lexie Hull with just 2.9 seconds left. It was a play that some felt had minimal contact. She then sank both free throws to secure a 90-88 win.

Earlier in that same sequence, Natasha Cloud defended Caitlin Clark tightly on the inbound, with visible contact that went uncalled. It was a no-whistle decision that left the Fever frustrated. Now, with Stewart raising the topic of her own free-throw opportunities, it adds an interesting layer to the conversation. The Liberty, a team that has had some close calls go their way, is now part of the broader discussion.

It all started when the interviewer pointed out an interesting stat to Breanna Stewart. The fact is that she’s averaging more free throw attempts than ever before in her career, through the Liberty’s first eight games of the 2025 season. It’s not just a slight increase. Rather, it’s a real jump for a player who has always thrived on skill, footwork, and outside shooting. When a reporter asked her about it after the game, Breanna Stewart didn’t exactly take it as a compliment.

Instead, she smirked and responded with just enough humor to make her point. She opened her response with “Probably a point of emphasis for the refs, I don’t know,”. That too, while laughing. The moment was just sharp enough to get people talking. And the timing was spot-on. Especially, since this Liberty team has had its share of late-game calls go their way this season.

Breanna Stewart leads Liberty with foul-drawing masterclass

The Liberty’s 82-77 win over the Valkyries on May 29 wasn’t pretty. Moreover, it showed what Breanna Stewart is willing to do to win. While the stats showed her usual strong numbers (27 points, 7 rebounds, and going 15-of-19 from the line). What stood out was how she got there. She drew 16 fouls, it is highly unusual in the WNBA. It marked the most fouls drawn by any player in a single game so far this season.

That game wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. Stewart’s knack for drawing fouls shows how she’s adapted to teams trying to shut down her outside shot, turning her into a force inside and boosting the Liberty’s title hopes.

What did everyone have to say about it? “She didn’t want to lose. That was the big thing,” that’s what coach Sandy Brondello said afterward. On one side it summed up Breanna Stewart’s relentless approach. However now, it’s adding to the growing controversy about inconsistent officiating. The Liberty attempted 30 free throws in that game compared to the Valkyries’ 14.

Back then, Sabrina Ionescu joked after the game while comparing Stewart to NBA’s foul-drawing specialist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Fans had mixed reactions though, with some praising her toughness while others questioned if she was getting too many calls and “star treatment” from the refs. Either way, in a physical game where every point mattered, Stewart’s willingness to attack and draw contact made the difference. When the Liberty needed it most.