Seattle Storm

Former MVP Breanna Stewart to leave Storm, sign with Liberty

Former WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart announced Wednesday her intention to leave the Seattle Storm and sign with the New York Liberty, according to her official Twitter account.

According to ESPN, Wednesday is the first day WNBA free agents can sign contracts, however sources are telling ESPN that Stewart is still working through any specifics of a deal and haven’t signed her yet.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Stewart wanted chartered air travel to be a key factor in any future contract, saying Stewart believes it’s critical to “players’ health, safety and performance.”

Stewart, who has won two WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm in the last seven years, played collegiately at UConn and was drafted first overall in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm.

Stewart was named WNBA Finals MVP in 2018 and 2020, WNBA champion in 2018 and 2020, WNBA MVP in 2018, WNBA All-Star in 2017 and 2018 and won the WNBA rookie of the year award in 2016.

She won a gold medal with Team USA in 2016, alongside Storm teammate Sue Bird, who retired in 2022.