New York Liberty Take Clear Shot at ESPN After Breanna Stewart's Masterful Performance

Reigning league MVP Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty resumed their 2024 WNBA season with a dominant 103-68 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night.

Stewart led the way for the Liberty with a game-high 27 points in just 20 minutes of action.

On Wednesday, ESPN released its top-25 WNBA player rankings for the midway point of the 2024 season. Stewart was ranked No. 2, trailing only MVP frontrunner A'ja Wilson.

Stewart's second-place ranking was no issue, but the language used to justify her position caught the Liberty's attention.

ESPN contributor Kevin Pelton wrote that Stewart may be "aging out of her prime."

"Ahead of her 30th birthday, it could be the first sign of Stewart aging out of her prime. The decline can be traced to a 3-point slump dating back to the postseason. Stewart shot just 18% beyond the arc in May before warming to 33% in June."

The Liberty fired back at this notion with a clear message after Thursday night's win.

"AGING LIKE FINE WINE.  When you speak on @breannastewart put some RESPECT ON HER NAME," the team wrote on X.

Stewart, 29, clearly isn't slowing down anytime soon. Fresh off her third Olympic gold medal with Team USA, the WNBA superstar is looking to lead her league-best Liberty squad to a championship this season.

Related: Breanna Stewart's Wife Slams ESPN for 'Disrespectful' Description