The last contest between the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty came on July 26 — in which L.A. won a 101-99 road thriller to pull off a then-league-best f

Stewart echoed Liberty coach Sandy Brondello’s hope that the two-time league MVP will be cleared to play by the end of this month. Stewart went as far to say that she’ll “definitely” be back before her 31st birthday on Aug. 27.

She'll turn 31 years old on her birthday, still near the peak of her powers. Stewart is one of the best winners in the history of sports, from Cicero-North Syracuse High School to the University of Connecticut and then on to the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty in the WNBA.