Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Breanna Stewart

Discover the career path of Breanna Stewart, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Breanna Stewart, known as "Stewie," is a highly accomplished American professional basketball player currently playing for the New York Liberty in the WNBA and the Mist of Unrivaled. She is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players ever. Notably, Stewart is also a founder of the Unrivaled basketball league, co-founding the venture alongside Napheesa Collier.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2010: Won gold medal in the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship

In 2010, Breanna Stewart continued with the USA team as it became the U17 team. The USA team won all eight games and the gold medal in the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women. Stewart earned a starting role in all eight games.

2010: Joined USA Basketball U16 team

In 2010, at age 14, Breanna Stewart was selected to join the USA Basketball U16 team. She helped the team win the gold medal in the First FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women, held in Mexico City, securing an automatic bid to the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship.

2010: U18 team won Americas Championship

In 2010, the U18 team won the Americas Championship, earning an automatic bid to the U19 World Championship held in Puerto Montt, Chile, in 2011.

2010: WNBA Finals Appearance

In 2018, the Storm advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2010 and won the championship, with Breanna Stewart winning Finals MVP.

2011: Finished seventh in Pan American Games

In 2011, Breanna Stewart and the USA team finished seventh in the Pan American Games, the first time in history they did not earn a medal. Stewart led the team in scoring, blocks, and rebounds.

2011: Competed in Pan American Games

In 2011, Breanna Stewart competed for the United States at the 2011 Pan American Games. Stewart was the only high school player chosen for the 2011 Pan American team, and only the second high school player in Pan American team history for the USA teams.

2011: Selected to USA Basketball U19 team

In 2011, Breanna Stewart was selected to be on the USA Basketball U19 team. The U18 team won the 2010 Americas Championship, thus earning an automatic bid to the U19 World Championship, held in Puerto Montt, Chile. The USA won 69–46 against Spain.

August 2012: Competed in the 2012 FIBA Americas U-18 National Championship

In August 2012, Breanna Stewart joined future UConn teammates Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck on the 12-player squad that competed in the 2012 FIBA Americas U-18 National Championship held in Puerto Rico. The USA won 71–47 to claim the gold medal.

July 2013: Represented US at the U19 World Championship for Women

In July 2013, Breanna Stewart, along with teammates Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck, were three of the twelve players selected to be on the team representing the US at the U19 World Championship for Women held in Klaipėda and Panevėžys, Lithuania.

September 23, 2014: Made final roster for FIBA World Championship

On September 23, 2014, Breanna Stewart made the final roster of 12 players for the U.S. Women's FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey.

October 2014: Won gold medal at FIBA World Championship

In October 2014, Breanna Stewart won the gold medal with the team in the FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey.

2014: Continued Performance

Breanna Stewart started and played in all 40 games of the 2013-2014 season, leading the team at 19.4 points and 2.8 blocks per game. She was also second on the team with 8.1 rebounds per game.

2014: FIBA World Cup Gold Medal

In 2014, as a member of the U.S. women's national team, Breanna Stewart won a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup.

2015: Preparation for Senior Year

In 2015, Breanna Stewart entered her senior year in 11th place on UConn's all-time scoring list with 1,960 career points and in fifth place on UConn's all-time blocked shots list with 288 career rejections.

2015: Participated in Pan American Games

In 2015, Breanna Stewart was a member of the USA Women's Pan American Team which participated in basketball at the 2015 Pan American Games held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada July 10 to 26, 2015. The USA won games against Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, before losing the gold-medal game to the host team Canada.

2016: Signed endorsement deal with Nike

In 2016, Breanna Stewart signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike.

2016: WNBA Draft and Rookie Season

In 2016, Breanna Stewart was drafted first overall in the WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm and made an immediate impact, leading to her winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. She also won the 2016 ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete and Best Women's College Basketball Player.

2016: Won gold medal at Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

In 2016, Breanna Stewart was named to the squad that played at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She won the gold medal with Team USA and joined Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Ruth Riley, Tamika Catchings and fellow UConn alums Kara Wolters, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore, as female basketball players who have won NCAA titles, WNBA Championships, and Olympic gold medals.

2016: WNBA Accomplishments

In 2016, Breanna Stewart was the first overall pick in the WNBA draft and was named the 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year. She also won a gold medal with the U.S. women's national team at the 2016 Olympics.

2016: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, as a member of the U.S. women's national team, Breanna Stewart won a gold medal in the Olympics.

2016: Signed with Shanghai Baoshan Dahua

In 2016, for her first full rookie season, Breanna Stewart signed with Shanghai Baoshan Dahua of the WCBA for the 2016–17 Chinese campaign.

2017: Re-signed with Shanghai Baoshan Dahua

In 2017, Breanna Stewart re-signed with Shanghai for the 2017–18 WCBA season.

2017: WNBA All-Star

In 2017, Breanna Stewart was named an All-Star.

June 2018: Signed with Dynamo Kursk

In June 2018, Breanna Stewart signed with Dynamo Kursk of the Russian Premier League. She was named MVP of EuroLeague Women for the first time.

2018: WNBA MVP and Championship

In 2018, Breanna Stewart was named the WNBA MVP and an All-Star. She also led the Storm to a championship and received the WNBA Finals MVP award.

2018: FIBA World Cup Gold Medal

In 2018, as a member of the U.S. women's national team, Breanna Stewart won a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup.

2019: Achilles Injury

In 2019, Breanna Stewart missed the entire WNBA season after suffering a torn Achilles while playing for Dynamo Kursk in the EuroLeague Women final on April 14. She returned to the U.S. for surgery and was made a paid ambassador for the 2019 season.

2019: EuroLeague MVP

In 2019, Breanna Stewart was named the EuroLeague Women MVP.

February 2020: Returned to Russia to sign with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In February 2020, Breanna Stewart returned to Russia to sign with UMMC Ekaterinburg for the remainder of the regular season.

July 2020: Return to Playing

In July 2020, Breanna Stewart returned to playing after recovering from an injury, rejoining her teammates at the IMG Academy for training.

2020: WNBA Championship

In 2020, Breanna Stewart led the Storm to their second championship and received the WNBA Finals MVP award.

2020: Won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics

In 2020, Breanna Stewart won gold at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo where she averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named the Olympic Tournament's Most Valuable Player and to the FIBA's All-Star Five team.

2020: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2020, as a member of the U.S. women's national team, Breanna Stewart won a gold medal in the Olympics.

2021: Won EuroLeague championship with Ekat

In 2021, Breanna Stewart re-signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg, won her first EuroLeague championship with Ekat, was named MVP of the 2021 Final Four with averages of 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in the season-ending tournament, and claimed the Russian Premier League title.

2021: Signed sponsorship with Puma

In 2021, Breanna Stewart signed a multi-year sponsorship with Puma.

2021: WNBA All-Star and W25 Selection

In 2021, Breanna Stewart was named an All-Star and was selected as one of the top 25 players in the WNBA's first 25 years as part of The W25.

July 2022: Signed with Fenerbahçe

On July 1, 2022, Breanna Stewart departed to sign with Fenerbahçe of Türkiye for the EuroLeague Women season. In Istanbul, Stewart landed the Turkish League title and was named Euroleague Final Four MVP for the second time as Fener landed the European championship, scoring 35 points in the final defeat of Mersin.

September 2022: Released Stewie 1 Quiet Fire

In September 2022, Breanna Stewart released Puma's first female signature shoes in over a decade, called Stewie 1 Quiet Fire.

2022: WNBA All-Star

In 2022, Breanna Stewart was named an All-Star.

2022: FIBA World Cup Gold Medal

In 2022, as a member of the U.S. women's national team, Breanna Stewart won a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup.

February 1, 2023: Stewart signed with the New York Liberty

On February 1, 2023, Breanna Stewart signed with the New York Liberty in free agency.

May 21, 2023: Debut home opener against the Indiana Fever

On May 21, 2023, in her debut home opener against the Indiana Fever, Breanna Stewart scored 45 points, setting a new franchise record for most points scored in a game by a single player, a franchise record for most made field goals at 15, and a career high in scoring and three-pointers made.

July 2023: Stewart and Collier founded Unrivaled

In July 2023, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier established Unrivaled, a new professional women's 3-on-3 basketball league. This league was created partly to provide WNBA players with opportunities to compete domestically, avoiding issues related to the WNBA's prioritization rule for those playing overseas during the offseason.

July 2023: Founded Unrivaled league

In July 2023, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier founded Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league.

2023: WNBA MVP and All-Star

In 2023, Breanna Stewart was named the WNBA MVP and an All-Star.

June 2024: Named to Olympic Team

In June 2024, Breanna Stewart was named to her third US women's Olympic team to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, alongside fellow Liberty teammate, Sabrina Ionescu.

July 9, 2024: Announced to play in Unrivaled

On July 9, 2024, Breanna Stewart was formally announced to play in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by herself and Napheesa Collier in July 2023. She plays for the Mist and scored the first basket in league history.

July 2024: Ally Financial announced as Unrivaled's first brand partner

In July 2024, Ally Financial was announced as the first founding brand partner of Unrivaled. Concurrently, Breanna Stewart signed with and joined Team Ally as an athlete.

October 20, 2024: New York Liberty won its first-ever WNBA Championship

On October 20, 2024, the New York Liberty won its first-ever WNBA Championship in franchise history when it defeated the Minnesota Lynx in a 3-2 Finals series.

2024: Stewart's Third WNBA Championship

In 2024, Breanna Stewart finished the postseason averaging 19.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 blocks over 11 games. The Liberty's Finals victory made Stewart's third WNBA Championship.

2024: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2024, as a member of the U.S. women's national team, Breanna Stewart won a gold medal in the Olympics.

January 2025: Unrivaled's inaugural season began

In January 2025, the inaugural season of Unrivaled commenced in Miami, Florida, marking the beginning of the new professional women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

February 16, 2026: Rejoined Fenerbahçe

On February 16, 2026, Fenerbahçe announced that Breanna Stewart rejoined the club for the remainder of the EuroLeague Women season.

2026: Mist won the 2026 championship

In 2026, the Mist won the championship. Stewart won MVP of the finals, recording 32 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and the game winning shot.