MVP Stewart lands new, 1-year deal from Liberty
Breanna Stewart, the reigning WNBA MVP, re-signed with the New York Liberty, the organization announced Monday.
“It’s a monumental day in New York as we are thrilled to welcome back the
MVP, Breanna Stewart,” general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement.
“Stewie’s return marks our unwavering commitment to excellence and our
collective drive to bring a championship to New York.”
Stewart’s deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed pact, and below the player
maximum salary, a source confirmed to ESPN after it was originally reported
by The Athletic. The strategy allows New York more flexibility in how it
shapes its roster.
The Liberty, who made their first WNBA Finals since 2002 last season, are
running it back with the same core from last year in Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot and Betnijah Laney.
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The franchise — revived by that group after years of irrelevance in the
league — is still searching for its first WNBA title.
By designating Stewart under the league’s core rule in the offseason, the
Liberty retained her exclusive negotiation rights. But the former UConn
great indicated she had no intention to be anywhere else but New York when
she hit free agency.
In her first season in Brooklyn after spending her entire career with the Seattle Storm, Stewart averaged 23.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and
1.5 steals per game on her way to being named league MVP for the second
time in her career.
Stewart previously won MVP in 2018 and won Finals MVP in both 2018 and 2020
as she propelled the Storm to two league titles.
Source: Breanna Stewart, the reigning WNBA MVP, re-signed with the New York Liberty, the organization announced on Monday, and the deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed pact which fell below the player maximum salary, a source confirmed to ESPN.
