Breanna Stewart has signed a one-year, unprotected deal to return The New York Liberty, reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Liberty assigned their core designation to the 2023 MVP on January 11, meaning that Stewart could not sign with another team during free agency. Per Her Hoop Stats, “the terms of the core qualifying offer are a fully guaranteed, one-year contract with a base salary equal to the supermax.”
Stewart helped lead New York to the WNBA Finals last fall, where the team fell to Las Vegas in four games. The UConn graduate spent the first six seasons of her WNBA career playing for the Seattle Storm – where she won two championships – before signing with the Liberty ahead of the 2023 season.
Stewart secured the 2023 MVP award (the second of her career) by averaging 23 points, 9.3 rebounds, and over 3 steals + blocks per game.
Additionally, Stewart’s signing comes on the heels of the team locking in Jonquel Jones on a two-year protected contract. The New York Liberty also missed out on the Nneka Ogwumike sweepstakes, in which she ultimately chose to sign with the Seattle Storm. The team also lost Stef Dolson who returned to the Washington Mystics, her original draft team, on a multiyear contract.
Despite missing on Ogwumike, and losing Dolson, Stewart’s one-year, unprotected deal supplies room for another free agency pickup. According to Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV, The New York Liberty have cap space for a protected contract, likely a veteran spot.
