NEW YORK — Liberty star Breanna Stewart is feeling better after suffering a bone bruise in her right knee late last month and hopes to be back by the end of August.

Stewart suffered the injury on July 26, saying she “felt something” in her knee and “irritated it” when she stepped in a game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

“I feel great. I just finished working out on the court in the back,” said Stewart, who suffered the injury on July 26. “And it’s really just kind of giving my leg, the bone a little bit of time while we have it. But hoping to be back sooner than later and really just wanting to be back with my team.”

The two-time WNBA MVP has been rehabbing the injury, and Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said she thought her star forward could be back by the end of August.

Stewart said she wanted to be back before her birthday on Aug. 27.

A seven-time All-Star, Stewart is averaging 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists. She will miss four games against the Minnesota Lynx as the two teams — in a WNBA Finals rematch — play four times in a three-week span.

“I hate this, but I’ll be on the bench,” she said.