September 6, 2025

​It’s Stewie's World: Breanna Stewart Returned to Her Stage—the Basketball Court

By Anthony Price 

Breanna Stewart shoots a free throw against the Connecticut Sun. Photo: Brandon Todd/New York Liberty

​When Breanna Stewart returned to the court, fans exploded at the Barclays Center. The New York Liberty star—affectionately called “Stewie—was back after missing 13 games with a knee injury, and the energy in the arena felt like the greatest show not on Broadway.
 
The timing couldn’t have been better. Without their 6’-4” superstar, the Liberty stumbled to a 5–8 record, sliding from second place to fifth at 22-15. With her, they’re a contender again, and their sights are set firmly on defending their title. 

​For Liberty coach Sandra Brondello, Stewie isn’t just another player; she’s a once-in-a-generation talent. “Her being out was hard for her. It was hard for us,” Brondello admitted at the pregame press conference. “She loves the game of basketball, and she knows she can help us. She’s just got this relentlessness about her that can rub off on her teammates. She’s got the highest motor I have ever seen in a player that just keeps going and going—now tonight…she’s not going to be happy that I have to take her out all the time.”
 
For this game, Stewie was on a strict 20-minute limit. The goal was to help Stewie get her rhythm back, easing her back into the game. She would play for 20 minutes, 36 seconds.
 
“It’s just nice [she’s] out there,” Brondello said, “the vibe that she brings to the team and the confidence that she brings to the team—these are the intangibles that we’ve missed from this team this long month.” 

The vibe that she brings to the team and the confidence that she brings to the team—these are the intangibles that we’ve missed from this team this long month.

​The Young Sun 
 
The streaking Sun pulled into Gotham City on August 23, the winners of three games in a row. With five rookies and no playoff pressure, they played with nothing to lose.
 
What followed was a thriller. The Liberty were up by as many as 17 points, only to see the fearless Sun close the gap with the game coming down to the final possession. With 2.2 seconds left, Sabrina Ionescu swiped the ball away from rookie Leila Lacan—who led the Sun with 22 points—as she drove to an open basket. Experience prevailed. Liberty 81, Sun 79.

Breanna Stewart plays defense. Photo: Brandon Todd/New York Liberty

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Stewie led the Liberty with 19 points, though it wasn’t vintage form. She shot an abysmal 4 of 12 from the field but redeemed herself by nailing 11 of 13 free throws. 
 
The Barclays crowd roared its approval, led by hip-hop legend Queen Latifah and R&B star Coco Jones flashing big smiles on the video monitor. 

UConn Made 
 
Stewie, a North Syracuse native, has been a fan favorite since coming to the Liberty in 2023 as the league’s top free agent. That same year, center Jonquel Jones left the Connecticut Sun to form a Liberty “big-three” alongside Stewie and 2020 No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu. The expectations soared in a city that hadn’t won a basketball championship since the ABA New York Nets in 1976. 
 
The growing pains came fast. The Liberty lost 3-1 to the Chicago Sky in 2023. But by 2024, Stewie delivered, leading New York to its first WNBA championship, beating the Minnesota Lynx 3 games to 2 at Barclays Center. 

Stewie’s resume is unmatched. 

​Stewie’s resume is unmatched. Drafted No. 1 by the Seattle Storm in 2016, she’s a three-time champion and has averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in her career. Her numbers are down slightly this season: 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. At 6’4”, with the skills of a shooting guard, she can play with her back to the basket and guard multiple positions on defense. 
 
Before the WNBA, of course, Stewie played college basketball at UConn, where the program seems to produce only generational talents, under the tutelage of timeless wonder Geno Auriemma. In her four-year career with the Huskies, she won four championships and four NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player awards —this feat should qualify her as the GOAT. 
 
Stewie, the only player to earn four, is UConn’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,676 points, trailing only Maya Moore.

​Making Power Moves in Business 
 
Off the court, Stewie has built a life as big as her game. She and her wife, former WNBA player Marta Xargay Casademont, are raising two kids while thriving in New York’s spotlight.
 
She co-founded “Unrivaled” with fellow UConn alumna, Napheesa Collier. Unrivaled is a Miami-based 3-on-3 league that pays its athletes six-figure salaries and puts players first. It’s already being hailed as a game-changer. 

If her game has made her a star, her voice and vision may make her a legacy.

​Her ventures don’t stop there. The Breanna Stewart Foundation supports women and youth initiatives in Syracuse through mentorship, sports, education and healthcare. She runs “Stewie 30,” an elite basketball camp for high school girls. Her apparel regularly sells out on her “Stewie’s World” website. She advocates fiercely for the WNBA union to get better pay. And she’s in constant demand as a corporate ambassador.
 
If her game has made her a star, her voice and vision may make her a legacy.

Breana Stewart and coach Sandra Brondello share a laugh at postgame press conference. Photo: New York Liberty

Another Championship?

At the postgame press conference, Stewie sat alongside Jones and coach Brondello. 
 
Stewie wore a black Nike tank top. “I felt great,” she said, smiling. “I was trying to get Sandy to let me play more minutes.” Her joke had the seriousness of a tax audit. “It was great to be back with the team.” 
 
Brondello wasn’t laughing about how close the game got. “They gave us a good battle,” she said of the Sun. “They are improving for a young group. They are young and athletic.” 
 
The regular season for the Liberty will end on Thursday, September 11, against the Chicago Sky. 
With Stewie healthy again, the Liberty have a real shot at back-to-back championships. 
 
But every dynasty needs a rival, and this one already has hers: Napheesa Collier. Teammates in business, opponents on the floor—only one can own the spotlight when the curtain rises in October.

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Anthony Price is an entrepreneur, author and publisher of CT Hoops Magazine. Jump Ball Journal is basketball beyond the score.