Liberty rout Sun 106-75 in opener — Stewart 31/10, hits 6,000 career points

The defending champs were supposed to be duct-taped together. Then they hung 106 on the Sun and won by 31 in the league opener. So much for that.

Breanna Stewart torched Connecticut for 31 points and 10 rebounds in her debut under new head coach Sandy Brondello — and crossed 6,000 career points in the process, becoming the second-fastest player in WNBA history to that mark (293 games). Marine Johannes added 17 off the bench. New York led 36-13 after the first quarter and never looked back, despite playing without Sabrina Ionescu (left foot, two weeks), Satou Sabally (cyst), and Rebecca Allen (left leg). The 31-point margin was the largest victory in a head coach's debut in Liberty franchise history and just the second 30+ point HC-debut win in WNBA history.

The Sun, meanwhile, are exactly who we thought they were: a rebuild. Connecticut shot it cold and never threatened. The Liberty open the year still favored at +225 to repeat. Even with three rotation pieces in street clothes, they walked into the opener and made a statement. Stewie's getting paid and doing star things. Title defense is on.