Breanna Stewart

Breanna Stewart is a professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Seattle Storm initially picked her as the first overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft, and Stewart has since built an illustrious career. In high school, she was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, and a McDonald's All-American. She was also a member of the 2012 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) High School Coaches' All-America Team and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Hoophall Classic.

Stewart showcased her skills as a forward for the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. Her significant contributions led the Huskies to four national championships, and she was named the Final Four's most outstanding player a record four times. Stewart was a three-time consensus national player of the year, the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and AP Player of the Year during her sophomore year. She won the Honda Sports Award for basketball in 2014, 2015, and 2016, along with the Senior CLASS Award in 2016. Prior to her first WNBA game, Stewart signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike, which was extended until 2021.

Throughout her professional career, Stewart has received numerous awards and accolades. She was the 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year, a six-time All-Star, and the WNBA MVP in 2018 and 2023. She also led the Seattle Storm to championships in 2018 and 2020, earning the Finals MVP on both occasions. In 2024, she led the New York Liberty to win the WNBA championship. Additionally, in 2022, Stewart was acknowledged as the WNBA scoring leader. She was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team three times, in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Furthermore, she received the recognition of being named to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team in 2021. Stewart has also achieved distinction in overseas competitions, winning two EuroLeague Championships in 2021 and 2023 and receiving the EuroLeague Final Four MVP awards in 2021 and 2023.

Stewart's achievements extend beyond the WNBA as she represented Team USA in various international competitions, earning gold medals at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Olympics. She was named the FIBA Women's World Cup MVP in 2018, and the Olympics MVP in 2021. Furthermore, she has played overseas, notably for teams such as Shanghai Baoshan Dahua, Dynamo Kursk, UMMC Ekaterinburg, and Fenerbahçe SK. Stewart has been named the USA Basketball Athlete of the Year three times in 2011, 2013, and 2018, and has won gold medals at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIBA World Cups.

In 2019, Stewart suffered a torn Achilles, causing her to miss the entire WNBA season. During this period, the WNBA hired her as a league ambassador. She bounced back strong from her injury, leading the Seattle Storm to a championship in 2020, and gaining further recognition for her skills on the court. In 2020, she was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. In 2023, she co-founded the 3x3 basketball league Unrivaled, playing in its inaugural season in 2025.