We’re just about a week into the official start of WNBA free agency and outside of a few core designations, and the Sue Bird-Seattle Storm’s poorly-managed reunion announcements, there hasn’t been much to talk about.
Until now…
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports broke news on Friday morning, reporting that WNBA star Breanna Stewart met with the New York Liberty and their brass this week in Los Angeles.
Stewart, a former league MVP (2018) and two-time Finals MVP (2018, 2020) was drafted by the Storm in 2016 and has played there since joining the W. Now she’s at least willing to listen to what other teams around the league have to say about her future.
Free agent WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart – in move that could end Seattle Storm tenure – met with New York Liberty this week in LA and it included owners Joe and Clara Tsai, full front office staff, business leads and head coach Sandy Brondello, league sources told @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 21, 2022
The details of exactly which non-Storm team Stewie met with isn’t necessarily what’s newsworthy here, although it’s super fun to imagine a Sabrina Ionescu-Betnijah Laney-Breanna Stewart-Natasha Howard Big 4 (?) in the Big Apple. Rather, it’s the fact that Stewie is treating her unrestricted free agency as an unrestricted free agent should—by meeting with other teams and testing the market.
Stewart indicated ahead of free agency that she has every intention to return to Seattle, so Haynes’ report comes as a surprise to those who figured the Storm-Stewart renewed partnership was a lock. Maybe it is and we just don’t know it yet.
Nevertheless, the biggest free agent is still on the market and her pending decision could impact the landscape of the WNBA.
⭐ @breannastewart of the @seattlestorm (5-1 record during May) averaged 22.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 2.0 BPG (Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month).#CountIt pic.twitter.com/mcfoAqFh5O
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 2, 2021
Expect things to continue moving slowly until Stewart has a home for the upcoming season. The Storm are currently +425 to win the title in 2022 at Tipico Sportsbook, but that will quickly change if Stewart leaves Seattle this offseason.
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