Breanna Stewart is headed to the New York Liberty.
In one of the biggest free agent moves in the history of the WNBA, Stewart is headed to the Big Apple in a decision she announced via her social media accounts one minute after 12 p.m. on Wednesday. She departs the Seattle Storm where she has played seven years and won two WNBA titles.
“Well, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions for sure and I decided to go to New York because I want to continue to be great,” Stewart said during an interview on ESPN. “And I want to go to the place where I can continue to help this league become better. To continue to raise the standard and I feel like, why not go to the biggest market in all of sports. I’m really excited to go after their first championship.”
Stewart’s announcement came on the first day of WNBA free agency and ends speculation surrounding where the basketball superstar would head this offseason. Her decision came in the form of a six-second video on her TikTok and Twitter account where she’s wearing a yellow No. 30 pinnie and then transitions to her wearing a shirt with “LIBERTY” across it while Empire State of Mind plays in the background.
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) February 1, 2023
The Liberty have already had a busy offseason with the acquisition of 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones last month in a blockbuster three-team trade. Now with Stewart, the Liberty has an impressive group that puts the team into the championship caliber with the likes of Jones and former No. overall pick Sabrina Ionescu that could easily be called a “super team.”
Stewart had narrowed down her choices to the Storm and Liberty earlier in the week, according to multiple reports.
In an exclusive interview with amNewYork, Jones said that she was “going crazy” when the news came down that Stewart would be joining her in New York.
“Obviously we were talking throughout free agency, but you know, I wasn’t sure (where Stewart would sign),” Jone said. “Just like they weren’t sure what my decisions were going to be. But I’m happy that things have come to fruition and I’m happy that she will be wearing a Liberty jersey and that will suit up together.”
Jones added that she wasn’t sure where the WNBA superstar would end up and said that Stewart had a very good poker face through it all. She did make a pitch for Stewart to join her in New York, as did another big name in basketball.
The addition of Stewart and the star power that the Liberty boasts now gives Barclays Center two teams that have the top names in the WNBA and NBA, with the Nets having Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Durant even made a pitch for Stewart to come to New York in a recent episode of the ETCs podcast.
“If Stewie comes here it would be ridiculous,” Durant said. “I hit her the other day, and I never do this, and was like, ‘Yo, it would be an incredible dynasty in New York City if you came here.’”
The addition of the WNBA superstar is sure to raise the excitement level at Barclays Center this upcoming season.
“I’m happy to come back East. I’m happy to be closer to home,” Stewart said. “I’m happy to represent New York and the liberty. I’m excited to go out and show everybody what we’ve got and go after a championship. I think that like I said, and I keep saying, New York is a basketball city and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
