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Alexa Philippou
Various Contributors
PHOENIX — Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and three-time league title winner, confirmed her intention to rejoin the New York Liberty as a free agent, a revelation made during her podcast, “Game Recognize Game with Stewie and Myles.”
Stewart clarified on the latest installment of their podcast to co-host Myles Turner, stating, “To be clear, my commitment is to remain in New York.” She added, “Despite my status as an unrestricted free agent, I have no intentions of engaging in any free agency discussions. My family is settled, and we are content in this location.
“I will be returning to New York, and that’s the definitive decision,” she concluded.
Sabrina Ionescu, a New York Liberty colleague and the team’s top draft selection in 2020, similarly conveyed to journalists at the USA Basketball training camp on Wednesday her plan to stay with the New York squad.
“Evidently, I am precisely where I am meant to be,” Ionescu stated. “I’ve never entertained any other notion and am truly eager to finalize the signing and commence. The season is approaching rapidly, and I’m keen to move past these formalities and simply begin our season and get things underway in New York.”
Stewart, recognized as one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of women’s basketball, recently concluded her third year with the Liberty, having previously started her professional journey with the Seattle Storm. In 2025, her ninth season in the league, the seven-time All-Star registered averages of 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest. She was sidelined for a portion of the latter half of the season due to an ailment and subsequently participated in the playoffs despite a sprained MCL sustained during the initial round.
Subsequently, Stewart had an unimpaired season competing in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league she established alongside Napheesa Collier, guiding her team, Mist BC, to secure its inaugural championship.
Ionescu, who holds four All-Star selections, posted averages of 18.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per contest while playing for the Liberty.
Ionescu expressed her belief that the Liberty, who brought in Chris DeMarco as a first-time WNBA head coach during the offseason, are situated “in a highly advantageous position, owing to the return of our foundational players.”
“I believe that serves as a cornerstone we can depend on, and while we recognize the arrival of a new coaching staff introduces significant alterations, I find it quite promising to acknowledge that our primary roster is returning, and we’ll be incorporating fresh talent. This will be fascinating to observe as we strive to reclaim our status as a championship-caliber team,” Ionescu elaborated.
Jonquel Jones has formed an integral part of the Liberty’s essential lineup subsequent to her trade from Connecticut in 2023. Natasha Cloud, Emma Meesseman, and Kennedy Burke represent additional significant free agents, concurrently, the Liberty holds sole negotiation privileges for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
Nearly every league veteran, save for two, is entering free agency this offseason, positioning them to benefit substantially from the significant salary increments outlined in the WNBA’s recently ratified collective bargaining agreement, approved just last month.
As the comprehensive version of the contract remains unfinalized, the precise dates for free agency have not yet been disclosed or shared with the teams. However, the two-team expansion draft is scheduled for Friday, and training camp is projected to commence as planned on April 19, thus, irrespective of other factors, the duration for free agency will be remarkably brief.
“I anticipate this process will be challenging, as it compels both athletes and franchises to reach conclusions rather rapidly,” Ionescu remarked. “Evidently, general managers and teams have been conducting preparatory work in advance, acknowledging the necessity to be ready for swift transitions within a limited timeframe, given the expedited decision-making and the brief period allocated for free agency.
“Nonetheless, I genuinely believe we will witness considerable shifts, because I feel individuals won’t possess ample opportunity to deliberate, engage with teams, or conduct visits. It will be a very fast-paced environment, and undeniably, substantial financial incentives are also available. Consequently, I think players will need to factor that in, which wasn’t always the case for them.”
