Breanna Stewart Now Has A WNBA Championship, Mvp, Finals Mvp, Two All-star Nods, Four Ncaa Championships And An Olympic Gold Medal To Her Name. Oh, And Shes Barely 24 Years Old. Safe To Say Its Officially Stewies World, And Were All Just Living In It.
IN THE MINUTES after Breanna Stewart won her first WNBA championship, her veteran teammate and league legend Sue Bird said something interesting about Stewart’s career arc.
“She clearly knows what it takes, and sometimes it just takes a couple of years to really figure out yourself in this league because it’s a very tough league to play in, and now here she is,” Bird said. She was sitting next to Stewart, who was seated directly behind her Finals MVP trophy, the Seattle Storm now champions of the WNBA world. “She’s figured it out. It’s probably going to get a little harder from here to be honest, but I think she’s ready for it.”
At the risk of disagreeing with Bird, it’s hard to see exactly how it gets more difficult for Stewart, now that she’s experienced precisely what it takes to win a WNBA title.
Consider how utterly at home she looked in the closeout game of the series against the Washington Mystics. Nevermind that she is job one on every scouting report on the Storm, with the general consensus of the league similar to the determination Mystics coach Mike Thibault reached: No matter how you play her, Stewart is going to get hers.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The SUMMER THAT WASN'T
Playground entry fences chain locked. Rims removed. Leagues canceled. Summer basketball just stopped in 2020. And as its effects extended beyond the blacktop, we were reminded why it's so important.
METAMORPHOSIS
The sport of basketball speaks to so many people in so many ways. Dan Peterson, the founder of Project Backboard, has teamed up with artists to use the beauty of the sport to turn local courts into works of art that are accessible to all.
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S Fire
For former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, the last three years have had their ups and downs. Now that he and the Phoenix Suns are back on the way up, DA wants everyone to know that's where they're planning to stay.
Now What?
As North Carolina rapper J. Cole transitioned from up-and-comer to full-blown vet, he came to a realization: staying sharp and fighting off complacency ain't easy. Inspired by his love for basketball and his desire to remain on top of the game, the 36-year-old has been treating music like a competitive sport while he readies his next project: The Off-Season.
ONE STEP AT A Time
NBA and G League vet Jeremy Lin and Loyola Marymount's Anthony Yu speak candidly about the ups and downs of being Asian American in the basketball world.
THE GARDEN Blooms
The Knicks are back. Deadass, they're back. A return to the tough, gritty, resilient style that made the teams of the past so dominant has allowed Saba Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and the Knicks an opportunity to compete for homecourt advantage in the 2021 playoffs. Facts.
CITIZEN OF THE World
Congolese native Yannick Nzosa played for professional teams in Italy and Spain before he turned 17. Now that his name is moving up the 2022 pre-draft boards, the former soccer player has one thing front and center in his mind—succeeding for his family back home.
STRONG Island
Mental fortitude and physical toughness are what's helped Long Island's Arella Guirantes make it all the way to the W.
KICK IN THE Door
The WNBA, now in its 25th season, is the longest-running women's sports league ever. SLAM sat down with four of the most influential players of all time Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sue Bird to discuss their part in making the League the force it is today.
Can't YOU SEE
It ain't hard to tell that supernatural vision has established Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as a clear candidate for the 2021 MVP Award.
