{"id":791893,"date":"2026-05-12T21:06:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T21:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/791893\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T21:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T21:06:16","slug":"breanna-stewart-on-the-wnbas-new-contract-an-ny-liberty-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/791893\/","title":{"rendered":"Breanna Stewart On The WNBA’s New Contract & An NY Liberty Comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breanna Stewart knows it\u2019s New York or nowhere. The WNBA veteran has been playing forward for the New York Liberty since 2023, and after re-signing with the team for the 2026 season<\/a>, she says there are no plans for a move any time soon. \u201cI knew I was going to come back to New York, but to make it official, to make it a longer-term deal, is exactly what I wanted,\u201d the 31-year-old tells Bustle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is home. This is where [my family is] rooted now, and we don\u2019t want to leave. I\u2019m a New York girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

After winning the WNBA Championship in 2024, the Liberty were knocked out of the playoffs early in 2025. As she heads into the league\u2019s 30th season<\/a>, Stewart is hoping for a comeback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the secret sauce is my confidence, but also the mental toughness to know that sometimes a game isn\u2019t always going to go my way,\u201d she says. \u201cI make sure to stick with the process \u2026 and hope that eventually the outcome will be in my favor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now that she\u2019s healed from a knee bone bruise<\/a>, which limited her to just 31 appearances last year, the 2026 season feels like a fresh start. \u201cI had a subpar season last year, by my standards, and I know that I can be the best. I want to go out and show that every single night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Outside of the WNBA, Stewart is just as motivated. She founded Unrivaled, a three-on-three women\u2019s professional basketball league, with fellow WNBA star Napheesa Collier<\/a> in 2025. She also gives back to her community<\/a> through youth basketball programs and education initiatives and is a mom of two alongside her wife, Marta Xargay Casademont<\/a>, a former guard for the Phoenix Mercury.<\/p>\n

She takes on brand partnerships, too, like her latest with Pinterest<\/a>, which was announced during the Liberty home opener on May 8. Stewart is known for her personal style (she loves a power suit)<\/a> and uses the platform to inspire her tunnel walks.<\/p>\n

Here, the star athlete talks about the team\u2019s book club, the future of the WNBA, and her secret competition with basketball legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How do you stay in the zone during a game?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I lean on my teammates, and I also like to take a second for a deep breath. If something goes wrong I\u2019ll sit on the bench and get re-centered, and then remind myself that whatever happened before, I can\u2019t change. What I can change is what\u2019s going to happen next.<\/p>\n

How do you stay positive when recovering from an injury?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re not able to do something that you love, it\u2019s really hard. My wife hates it when I\u2019m injured because I\u2019m just annoyed the whole time, but it drives me to want to be back out there and be helpful for my team.<\/p>\n

Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

What are some changes you\u2019d still like to see in the league?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m excited about what\u2019s happening with our new CBA,<\/a> [a historic collective bargaining agreement that raised salaries and expanded family-planning benefits].<\/p>\n

In the future, I\u2019d also like to see that every team has their own practice facility \u2014 a safe haven that they can work in every day, without having to share. I\u2019d also like to see games played in bigger arenas. People are excited to watch us, and we don\u2019t want to sell ourselves short if a stadium doesn\u2019t have enough seats.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Liberty\u2019s game plan for this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re doing our best to rest and recover to make sure we\u2019re all healthy. One of my goals with this team is to stay connected, so we\u2019re going to dinner together on our off days or doing something fun so it\u2019s not all about work. We need fun moments to lean back on when the going gets tough.<\/p>\n

What excites you most about the league\u2019s 30th season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m looking forward to wearing the retro jerseys<\/a> and appreciating that milestone. I hope everyone who helped the league get to this point gets their flowers along the way, whether it\u2019s retired players or staff members<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do you have your eyes set on the 2028 Olympics?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course I do. We have the World Cup in Berlin in September, and the WNBA will take a two-week pause for it. I\u2019m getting ready for that, then taking it one year at a time. I\u2019ve been to three Olympics, and want to keep going as long as I can. My goal is to beat Sue and Diana, who are five-time gold medalists. I feel a competitiveness there.<\/p>\n

Were they your favorite players growing up?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Definitely. Also Candace Parker,<\/a> Maya Moore, and Lauren Jackson.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the vibe in the Liberty locker room?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re definitely playing music. Usually it\u2019s JJ [Jonquel Jones<\/a>] or Satou [Sabally]<\/a> playing it. We also have a team book club, so we\u2019ll talk about what we\u2019re reading. This year, we\u2019re reading Yesteryear. Last year, we read the Twisted Love series and The Silent Patient, which had a crazy plot twist. We\u2019d talk about it on the road, and it was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

John Nacion\/Variety\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

How do you choose your looks for tunnel walks?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I choose them with my stylist, Jan-Michael Quammie<\/a>, and I also create a mood board on Pinterest. Marta and I are always looking there for inspiration.<\/p>\n

What are some key style words you search for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I go for a powerful vibe. I don\u2019t need to be in a suit and loafers all the time, but especially for tunnel \u2019fits, I want to look like I mean business.<\/p>\n

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.<\/p>\n

The NY Liberty\u2019s Book Club<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n

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