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If there were any concerns about the Liberty’s new superteam after an opening-night clunker at Washington on Friday, they were quelled in a hurry Sunday in their home debut.

Breanna Stewart, the marquee addition in the offseason overhaul, poured in a franchise-record and career-high 45 points as the Liberty beat the Fever 90-73 before a crowd of 8,575 at Barclays Center.

“It was really important to play like this in my debut because I want people to be here and I want them to come back, and I want more,” Stewart said. “I want more of everything.”

The Liberty’s newly acquired trio of stars got the team off to a big early lead and they never let off the gas pedal. Stewart opened the scoring by finding Jonquel Jones for a basket, and Stewart followed with a 3-pointer.

Courtney Vandersloot, the last of the new acquisitions, used her speed to sneak past her defender for a reverse layup, giving the Liberty a 7-2 lead.

Stewart hit another 3, and Jones another basket before Sabrina Inosecu, the holdover star, hit another 3 to put the Liberty up 15-4 just over three minutes into the game.


  The Liberty’s Breanna Stewart reacts during the team’s win over the Fever on May 21, 2023. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post The Liberty’s Breanna Stewart reacts during the team’s win over the Fever on May 21, 2023. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post

Stewart finished the first quarter with 19 points, shooting 4-for-5 from deep and 6-for-7 overall after a middling 12-point game Friday.

“We still got some things we need to keep getting better at but Stewie, once she was, you know, we have Breanna Stewart and they don’t I suppose,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “Yeah, she was pretty special.”

Production continued after the hot start, the Liberty pushing the lead to as many as 32 points early in the fourth quarter.

Vandersloot opened the second half with back-to-back field goals. The next possession resulted in a give-and-go with Stewart for a traditional three-point play. Chants of “MVP” rang around the arena as Stewart made a run at a 50-point game.


  Breanna Stewart scores two of her career-high 45 points in the Liberty’s win over the Fever on May 21, 2023. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post Breanna Stewart scores two of her career-high 45 points in the Liberty’s win over the Fever on May 21, 2023. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post

“I didn’t know I broke really any record,” Stewart said. “I looked up at the scoreboard one time and then I saw I had 37, and I was like, ‘I don’t even know what just happened.’ But I wanted to be aggressive. …I wanted to come out and set the tone and just be confident. When you get in those moments, it just feels like everything is going in.”

Jones finished with 14 points after scoring just five Friday.

Vandersloot finished with 11 points and eight assists and Ionescu totaled nine points, eight assists and eight rebounds, nearing a triple-double.

The Liberty’s season opener was less than ideal, losing 80-64, thanks to 20 turnovers and mild production from its top scorers. The Liberty shot just 34 percent from the field.

Brondello emphasized it will take time for the players to learn to play with one another.

“We said it’s going to take us time,” she said before Sunday’s game. “So, then they have to learn to play with each other as well. So some of [Friday’s game] you saw a team that had chemistry and a team that didn’t, so we just have to make sure that we learn quickly and then apply it.”


  Courtney Vandersloot reacts during the Liberty’s win over the Fever on May 21, 2023. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post Courtney Vandersloot reacts during the Liberty’s win over the Fever on May 21, 2023. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post

Betnijah Laney, the fifth piece in the Liberty’s strong starting lineup, said they made a point to rectify Friday’s turnover problem. And they did, turning the ball over just six times in the first half to build a commanding 62-35 lead at halftime.

The Liberty, who have a six-day break until they face the Sun on Saturday, will work on a number of things in preparation, including endgame closing points, having only knocked down five shots in the fourth quarter Sunday.

“We need to be better finishing games in that way, but look, we are still not where we need to be,” Brondello said. “We know that and Indiana is a younger team. Let’s see how we go against veteran teams.”

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