Breanna Stewart Re-Signs with the Liberty for 2025
Breanna Stewart, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time WNBA champion, has agreed to a new one-year deal with the New York Liberty. This signing comes after Stewart helped the Liberty secure their first-ever WNBA championship. During the 2024 season, Stewart averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and three and a half assists. She finished the season as the fourth-highest scorer in the league. By choosing a short-term contract, Stewart positions herself strategically. Her decision aligns with the anticipated changes in the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. As the Vice President of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, Stewart is deeply involved in advocating for player rights and better conditions.
Ahead of this upcoming WNBA season, Stewart was designated as a core player by the New York Liberty. A core designation gives the team exclusive rights to negotiate a contract with the player, often leading to an offer of a one-year supermax deal. However, instead of accepting the supermax contract, Stewart chose to reduce her salary to prioritize the team’s success. Stewart has been in the WNBA for nine years. Her journey started when she was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the 2016 WNBA Draft. Throughout her career, Stewart has embraced a leadership role. Last year, she and Napheesa Collier officially launched Unrivaled Basketball, a three-on-three league. The league was created to provide women’s basketball players with an opportunity to compete domestically during the offseason, serving as an alternative to playing overseas. Stewart has consistently voiced her concerns about the current CBA. In 2022, she criticized the prioritization clause and emphasized the stark difference in earnings between playing overseas and in the United States. She has also noted the league’s shortcomings in supporting player improvement. Among these and other concerns, Stewart has been unafraid to speak out. She continues to address key issues within the league. With the CBA negotiations underway, players like Stewart are leading the charge for meaningful reform.
This past October, members of the WNBPA voted to opt out of the existing CBA. Originally signed in 2020, the agreement was set to run until 2027. However, it will now conclude this October, at the end of the 2025 WNBA season. This arises from players seeking a new agreement that better represents their worth. Their priorities include higher salaries, improved working conditions, increased benefits, and more. Unrivaled Basketball has proven that these goals are attainable, despite being a newly established league. The season, spanning three months from January to March, highlighted Unrivaled's commitment to prioritizing player well-being. In this brief period, the league made a significant impact. Each player earned over $200,000, supported by over $35 million in investments and partnerships with more than a dozen sponsors, including HBO Max and TNT Sports. Unrivaled provided amenities, such as childcare services, recovery and wellness facilities, a practice court, and a gym, all conveniently housed under one roof. Furthermore, the league offered equity shares to every player. The success of Unrivaled has set an example. Seeing what Unrivaled offers has made it clear that the WNBA has major room to improve. Renegotiating the CBA allows the WNBPA to address systemic issues, such as wage disparities and player development, while promoting long-term improvements.
Breanna Stewart’s decision to sign a one-year deal with the New York Liberty showcases her awareness of the shifting landscape in the WNBA. As Vice President of the WNBPA, she is positioned to address critical league issues within the WNBA. Her leadership role in Unrivaled Basketball provides her with a unique perspective on what a more established league like the WNBA could achieve. Stewart’s advocacy, alongside the collective efforts of her peers, is shaping the future of the league. With the renegotiation of the CBA approaching, the opportunity to redefine standards and improve conditions for players is within reach. Although if the WNBA and the WNBPA fail to finalize a new CBA by October 31, 2025, the 2026 season could face serious repercussions, including potential player strikes if demands remain unmet. Breanna Stewart’s leadership, both on and off the court, combined with her recent accomplishments, continues to empower players to recognize their worth and demand better treatment. The path forward is becoming increasingly clear: through united efforts, the WNBA is poised to enter a groundbreaking era of change.
