WNBA star Breanna Stewart has zero plans to leave the New York Liberty.
With WNBA free agency tentatively set to begin in the coming days, Stewart, who won a championship with the Liberty in 2024 and an MVP trophy in 2023, is one of several marquee free agents who could land with new teams. However, the 31-year-old says she’s not moving on from the Liberty.
Advertisement
“I’m just gonna set the record straight here, I will be staying in New York. I’m not planning on taking any free agency meetings, even though I am an unrestricted free agent,” Stewart said on her podcast with NBA player Myles Turner.
“I’m gonna be back in New York, and that’s all there is to it.”
1 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
1 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.
2 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas.
3 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: The Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper (2) drives the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11).
4 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.
5 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22).
6 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
7 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.
8 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
9 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
10 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
11 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
12 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
13 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
14 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
15 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
16 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
17 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
18 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
19 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
20 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
21 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
22 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
23 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
24 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
25 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
26 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
27 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
28 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
29 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
30 / 30
The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
Stewart says her family is set up in New York and is “solid” in the foundation they’ve established. She also wished every other player in free agency well, but made it clear she is “not a part” of the many who will explore free agency.
The WNBA has yet to formally announce when free agency will begin. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY last month that in February, teams received a timeline for what several offseason events could look like, including free agency.
Advertisement
The dates in the timeline were the last known dates shared with teams before a new CBA was agreed to. According to the timeline, free agency would last from April 7 through April 18. Designations would begin on April 7 and April 8, negotiations would then be from April 9 through April 11 and signings would be completed from April 12 to April 19.
The 2026 WNBA season tips off on Friday, May 8, when Stewart and the Liberty host the Connecticut Sun at 7:30 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Breanna Stewart confirms return to Liberty before WNBA free agency