Everything works for Breanna Stewart, more fulfilled than ever since her arrival at the New York Liberty, not far from where she grew up and where she has a string of great performances, as evidenced by her recent outing with 40 points, or recently when she scored 42 points. Not to mention his record 45 points for his first home game.
Alongside Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones but also Marine Johannès, Breanna Stewart is simply having the best season of her career, and has just broken the record for points scored in a season in the WNBA. Under his leadership, the Liberty appears to be the only team capable of dethroning the Las Vegas Aces, reigning champions. The New Yorkers sent a first message by winning the Commissioner’s Cup in Las Vegas against the Aces three weeks ago, a meeting in which Marine Johannès pulled out all the stops with 17 points in 14 minutes.
To top it off, Breanna Stewart can also be proud of her partnership with Puma which resulted in two signature models, the Stewie 1 then the Stewie 2, whose new “Fire” colorway is officially released today. It was the first time in more than ten years, since Candace Parker, that a WNBA player benefited from such an honor. A distinction also savored at its true value.
For DNA of Sports, Breanna Stewart took her time to talk about this exceptional journey so far, with this successful return to New York and this great adventure which continues with Puma through this Stewie 2.
Breanna, let’s start with this big season on your new team in New York. You have a string of great performances, you have already won the Commissioner’s Cup. Did the experience live up to what you hoped for?
Yes, I love being a part of the Liberty and playing in New York. At first, it took us a while to find each other and be comfortable together. But now, being in August, we are playing much better. We have just won the Commissioner’s Cup, and all while enjoying doing things. We take them one after the other and continue to work with the aim of winning the title.
Could this final won against the reigning champion constitute a turning point in your season, with regard to your ultimate objective, to win the title?
We knew this match was going to be tough, especially playing Las Vegas in Vegas. To have been able to play, set the tone as we did throughout the match, and win at the end, it allowed us to send a message. Of course, it was great to win, but also to bring home this first trophy for the New York franchise and let everyone feel the taste of victory. It makes you want more.
You joined one of the biggest markets in the league, which became even bigger with your arrival. Do you feel the hype growing around this team?
Yes, I find that the craze continues to grow. During our last home match, we had nearly 12,000 spectators. People on the streets of New York are talking about Liberty. They want to come watch the games and realize how much fun they have when they come. It is also evolving in the United States but also globally. Because we have players like Marine Johannes, like Han Xu, and that allows us to reach other parts of the globe. And in the finale, my god, Marine caught fire.
The 10th player in history to own her signature shoe
This September 7, the Stewie 2 is released, your second signature shoe. How did you feel when Puma announced to you that you were going to succeed Candace Parker and have your own signature line?
I was really excited but also surprised. Firstly happy to be able to revive the fashion of having signature shoes in the WNBA and women’s sport. Then, surprise because it was a first in 10 years, and I became the 10th female athlete to benefit from a signature shoe. To be able to do this and for children to be able to look for “Stewies” rather than the traditional male models, it’s a great honor. It’s crazy, there was Stewie 1 and now Stewie 2.
What were your priorities for your signature shoes?
The priorities for me were to have comfort, that the pair be a “low-top” model. I had surgery on both Achilles tendons, so I wanted to make sure there was enough foam in the heel area. On Stewie 1, there was a scar to represent my injuries and for a bit of storytelling. And on the 2, we continued our improvements with incredible new colors that will continue to be released.
The Stewie 2 has kept the same DNA as the Stewie 1, but what are the main adjustments or improvements?
The second has evolved in the right direction by following the advancement of technology. We made sure we could have the best, like NitroFoam, comfort. We were also a little more creative with the colors. They are a little more interesting like the “Water” color, with this wave effect which is original. We’re going to continue to make sure that it’s a shoe that we can play with, but also be comfortable with.
The Stewie 2 has already benefited from striking colors such as the “Ruby” or “Water” colors. What does the rest hold for us?
For the final, I wore a new colorway “Seafoam” which I hope will be called “Stu York”. And there is another colorway coming out for the playoffs, the “Fire”. We stay on the theme of the forces of nature. That’s really the idea behind the Stewie 2, this ability of this shoe to be a force of nature, whether it’s on or off the field, like being a working mom, being able to do everything TO DO.
