Stewart's 'influence' is undeniable (2025)

Brooklynites didn’t have to wait for Time Magazine to reveal just how influential Breanna Stewart has been since she signed to play for our borough’s WNBA team two years ago.

But her impact beyond leading the New York Liberty to their first-ever WNBA championship last fall landed her on the publication’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2025.

A two-time league and WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player, Stewart and on-court rival Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx both cracked the coveted list Tuesday for founding Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 professional basketball league that helped create even more opportunities for female athletes.

Stewart spent last year dazzling Brooklyn fans by averaging 22 points and nine rebounds in her second season with New York.
The first ended with her finishing as the circuit’s all-time single-season scoring leader, along with a Finals appearance that saw the Liberty fall just short in four tough games to Vegas.

The 6-foot-4 forward eventually spearheaded the Liberty’s charge to an elusive WNBA crown, which had avoided the franchise’s grasp since it was founded during the league’s inaugural 1997 campaign.

Stewart, who re-signed with New York earlier this month after grabbing her third WNBA title, also joined Liberty teammate Sabrina Ionescu on the podium in Paris, where the tandem won gold medals as members of Team USA last summer at the Olympics.

“Bringing Stewie back to the Liberty was our top priority this offseason,” said New York general manager Jonathan Kolb. “Her impact on and off the court is immeasurable.

“She’s not only one of the best and most accomplished players in the world, but a leader whose relentless drive is foundational to the standard we continue to build upon in New York.”

The gold medal was Stewart’s third and preceded her outdueling Collier and her Minnesota teammates in a thrilling five-game Finals, which ended in a confetti shower at Barclays Center.

The six-time All-Star and Collier began their quest to build Unrivaled in 2023, providing a domestic home for women’s pro hoops to help players avoid traveling to Europe for gainful employment in the ever-growing sport.

Team USA soccer legend Alex Morgan penned the section on the two women who imagined and built Unrivaled.

“I have so much respect for Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league’s founders,” Morgan wrote. “Their ability to continue to shine in the WNBA—in fact, Phee and Stewie faced off in the 2024 finals—while building the next big thing blows me away.

“The dynamic duo stuck their necks out there to give players a chance to make money in the U.S. in the offseason, and not have to move their families across the world.”

Stewart has also been outspoken regarding some of the online hate that surrounded the rivalry between WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese last season.

During last year’s Finals, Stewart revealed that she and her wife Marta Xargay received threatening homophobic anonymous emails following Game 1.

Her strong voice resonated throughout the league and the WNBA responded to her and the rest of its players by announcing prior to Monday’s Draft that it has put together a task force to help combat online hate.

“We want to ensure that the WNBA remains a space where everyone — players, fans and corporate partners — feel safe, valued and empowered,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

Morgan went on about Stewart’s and Collier’s influence on women’s sports.

“Unrivaled makes female athletes think about everything differently,” she said. “It’s not always just take the salary and sign on the dotted line and be happy. Sometimes you can just do it yourself better.”

After leading New York in scoring twice, rebounding four times and assists once in the Finals, Stewart put up 19.1 points per contest during the Unrivaled season.

All that activity may have led the 30-year-old University of Connecticut alum to require an arthroscopic procedure on her right meniscus last month, but she should be healthy and ready to go when the Liberty host the Aces in the season opener in Downtown Brooklyn on May 17.

Stewart and Collier won’t meet on the hardwood again until July 30, when the Liberty visit the Lynx at Target Center.

The rematch on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush is slated for Aug. 10.

Until then, the duo can add making Time’s list to the gold medal they won together in an historic championship game vs. France at the Paris Games.

“That’s what Phee and Stewie did here,” Morgan added. “The launch of Unrivaled will go down in history as a pivotal moment for continuing the tidal wave of momentum in women’s sports.”