New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart stands as arguably Geno Auriemma’s most significant recruiting haul across four decades with UConn women’s basketball, bringing over 2,600 points and four national titles to Storrs.
Now, Stewart is delivering her own recruiting pitch to the Basketball Capital of the World as the Connecticut Sun franchise prepares for relocation to Houston ahead of the 2027 season, leaving the Nutmeg State without a WNBA franchise for the first time in two decades. After an 87-80 victory over the Sun Monday evening, Stewart encouraged Connecticut’s soon-to-be-stranded fan base to cheer on the Liberty going forward.
“It’s incredible to be supported by these fans,” Stewart said during Monday’s post-game press conference. “Just knowing my journey in this state, from when I came to UConn and now being able to come back every single year, is really important. So, I appreciate them for kind of supporting me from afar and, listen: The Connecticut Sun fans, they can just cheer for the Liberty next season, right? We’re the closest team.”
Stewart was born and raised in upstate New York, but she chose to spend her college years in Connecticut over interest from nearly every Division I program in America as the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, famously telling Auriemma on her official visit that “I would like to commit if you’d take me.” The 6-foot-4 forward rotated in and out of the starting lineup during her freshman season before her ascent as one of the greatest women’s basketball players ever began the following year. Stewart won three consecutive National Player of the Year awards and was the catalyst behind UConn’s unmatched run of four consecutive national championships.
Flung across the country, Stewart was selected No. 1 overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by Seattle and partnered with fellow Husky alum Sue Bird in leading the Storm to a pair of titles. In 2023, Stewart returned to the Empire State to join the Liberty, and she’s reaffirmed her commitment to the New York franchise in recent free agency cycles.
Stewart explained that Monday’s matchup wasn’t as emotional for her, with the Liberty taking one last road trip to Connecticut in August. Still, she expressed disappointment that the WNBA will lack Connecticut representation in the foreseeable future.
“It’s definitely a bittersweet moment, Stewart said. “It’s really sad to see the team move on, but [I’m] happy for all the memories here that I’ve played, whether it was at UConn or playing against the Sun. And [I’m] just hoping that, while the franchise is leaving, hopefully there’s going to still be more games here, whether it’s a one-off or things like that, because these fans, they deserve it.”