WNBA star Breanna Stewart ended the drama Wednesday after publicizing she’s subscribing with the New York Liberty.
” I decided to go to New York because I want to continue to be great,” she told ESPN’s Malika Andrews of her choice.” And I want to go to the place where I can continue to help this league come more, to continue to raise the standard. And I feel like why not go to the biggest request in all of sports. And I’m really agitated to go after their first crown.”
Stewart played six seasons with the Seattle Storm, helping the team win two titles. She equaled21.8 points,7.6 rebounds and2.9 assists in 2022.
The 28- time-old is the alternate former MVP to join the Liberty this offseason after they acquired Jonquil Jones from the Connecticut Sun.
There have been dominant armies in the WNBA ahead.
The Houston Comets reeled off four straight crowns with the trio of Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoops and Tina Thompson. The Minnesota Lynx captured four titles in seven times with Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Semitone Augustus and subsequently Sylvia Fowls.
But the WNBA might be embarking on a true super team area, at least within the terrain of how star- freckled outfits in the NBA have been constructed.
The Liberty have added Stewart and Jones to a canon that formerly included Sabrina Ionesco, Betnijah Laney and Stefanie Dopson, and they might not be done. Courtney Vander spoil vindicated she isn’t returning to the Chicago Sky, so she could follow Stewart to New York.
This comes as the defending champion Las Vegas Aces landed two- time MVP Candace Parker. Las Vegas could potentially run out a starting lineup of Parker, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
The on- court battles between New York and Las Vegas during the regular season will be appointment viewing, and they could have a playoff series for the ages.
Stewart’s departure from Seattle could have a major domino effect.
The Storm has just two players under contract, one of whom is Jewell Lloyd. Indeed if they hider- inked Stewart and added Vander loot, general director Talisa Rhea would’ve had a tall task ahead to fill out the rest of the platoon.
With its swish player now gone, Seattle could pivot toward a full rebuild, at which point Lloyd becomes a trade chip.
The 29- time-old is a four- time All- Star who has evolved to come a well- rounded two- way guard. She equaled16.3 points and shot38.5 percent from beyond the arc in 2022.
The fact that she played alongside Stewart and was so effective makes Lloyd a great fit for any team with an established star.
One thing is clear Stewart’s move to the Liberty shifts the balance of power in the WNBA.
