Stewart sets WNBA single-season scoring mark

ARLINGTON, Texas — Breanna Stewart scored 40 points to set the WNBA’s single-season scoring record, and the New York Liberty held off the Dallas Wings 94-93 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.

New York (31-7) moved within a game of first-place Las Vegas (32-6) with home games against Los Angeles and Washington remaining. The Aces close the season with a home-and-home series against Phoenix.

Stewart became the all-time leader with 861 points after her 15th point of the night. She reached 40-plus points for the fourth time this season and also had 10 rebounds. She finished the game with 885 points on the season — 25 more than Diana Taurasi‘s mark set in 2006. Taurasi did it in only 34 games, while it has taken Stewart 38.

The WNBA implemented a new 40-game regular-season slate this year, up from 36 in 2022. The WNBA has played a 34-game season for most of its history.

“It means a lot,” Stewart said of the record. “Any time I’m in the same limelight as ‘D,’ it’s a huge honor.

“I have something I can like hold over her head a little bit,” Stewart added, laughing. “Really appreciate everything that I’ve been able to do and wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates.”

Dallas (20-18) was seeking to clinch the No. 4 seed with a victory.

Stewart was fouled on a jumper with 42.3 seconds left and Dallas challenged the call, but it was unsuccessful. Stewart made the first free throw to break a tie at 93-all and secured an offensive rebound after missing the second free throw.

New York forward Betnijah Laney nearly banked in a jumper, but it rolled out and Dallas headed the other way with about 25 seconds left. Satou Sabally had a good look in the lane, but her shot hit hard off the backboard and Stewart grabbed another rebound to seal it.

Laney scored 22 points and Courtney Vandersloot had 16 points and 10 assists for New York. Sabrina Ionescu was limited to just five points in 25 minutes. Vandersloot reached 300 assists on the season, equaling her career high set in 2019.

Sabally finished with 27 points for Dallas. Arike Ogunbowale added 19 points, and Natasha Howard had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.