What IF Stewie Goes to NY?

Breanna Stewart is, without a doubt, one of the best basketball players in the world, and she’s spent her entire WNBA career in Seattle. She is one of the most accomplished basketball players ever, and her career still has a long way to go. 

Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that Breanna Stewart met with the New York Liberty this week in LA, which included owners Joe and Clara Tsai, entire front office staff, business leads, and new head coach Sandy Brondello. 

While most WNBA fans are still skeptical that Stewie decides to go to NY, and rightfully so, what if she does? She would be entering maybe the biggest entertainment city in America, and would actually be joining a pretty damn talented team. All-Star Betnijah Laney, budding young talents like Sabrina Ionescu and Michaela Onyenwere. Not to mention Natasha Howard, DiDi Richards, Becca Allen, and Sami Whitcomb. This move would instantly make them WNBA title contenders. 

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

What happens next? It is more likely she stays in Seattle with Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, given that it’s Bird’s last season, and she seems to love Seattle. That trio, healthy, is a title contender, but they do need more pieces. New York has the pieces to immediately be one, but Seattle needs a few signings to make it happen. 

Stewie is also coming off another major injury, so would she want to rehab somewhere else? Maybe she’s in NY more than most realize? We have seen crazy things happen in sports; just last offseason, we saw Candace Parker leave the Sparks, where she had played for 13 seasons. This move would truly shake up the WNBA and could be the reason even more things move differently. 

There are still some major names that need to sign with a team, including reigning MVP Jonquel Jones, reigning Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, and Jewell Loyd, who were cored, which means their respective teams have exclusive negotiating rights. A’ja Wilson is a restricted free agent, while players like Courtney Vandersloot, Liz Cambage, Tina Charles, and others are unrestricted and can go wherever they choose without anything tying them up. 

In some ways, the state of the W is in the hands of Breanna Stewart right now. Bright lights of New York City or the comfort of Seattle?