The basketball world is buzzing with the news that Breanna Stewart, a star player for the New York Liberty, is set to return to her Turkish club, Fenerbahce Opet, amidst the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the 2026 WNBA season. This move has sparked curiosity and raised questions among fans and analysts alike.
Fenerbahce made the announcement on Tuesday, revealing that Stewart had re-signed with the club and would be joining them for their playoff push in April. The timing of this decision is particularly intriguing, as the WNBA's collective bargaining negotiations continue to stall, leaving the future of the league in a state of flux.
Stewart's presence in the Euroleague's Final Six, set to take place in Zaragoza, Spain, from April 15th to 19th, adds an extra layer of excitement to the tournament. However, with the WNBA training camps scheduled to open on April 19th, and the season set to begin on May 8th, there's a possibility of a delayed start due to the ongoing labor talks.
The league is considering changes to its prioritization rules, but any modifications are unlikely to take effect in the first year of the new deal. Stewart's last appearance for Fenerbahce was during the 2022-23 season, where she led the franchise to its first EuroLeague women's championship, earning her the Final Four MVP and a spot on the All-EuroLeague first team.
But here's where it gets controversial... Stewart's decision to return to Fenerbahce might seem contradictory to her previous efforts. During the 2023-24 WNBA offseason, Stewart and her colleague Napheesa Collier were busy laying the foundation for their groundbreaking 3-on-3 basketball league, Unrivaled, which aimed to provide players with an alternative to playing overseas during the WNBA offseason. Unrivaled, based in Miami, was designed to keep players stateside and offer them a more lucrative and stable income source.
Despite Stewart's representative not returning The Post's request for comment, the ball is now in the Women's National Basketball Players' Association's court to propose a new CBA. The WNBA finally shared a counteroffer with the players' union on February 6th, after a six-week wait. One of the main sticking points in these negotiations is the revenue-share system, with different viewpoints on what constitutes a fair distribution of income.
Despite the ongoing back-and-forth, Stewart remains optimistic about the progress being made. In a recent episode of her podcast, "Game Recognize Game with Stewie and Myles" Turner, she expressed her belief that the owners are finally understanding and receptive to the players' demands.
Until a new CBA is ratified, the WNBA is in a holding pattern, unable to proceed with crucial events like the two-team expansion draft, free agency, and the college draft, all of which must take place before training camp.
Stewart, an unrestricted free agent in the WNBA, has publicly stated her intention to re-sign with the Liberty for the 2026 season. Last season, she averaged impressive stats of 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting at a solid 46.1% clip. Currently, she's playing for Mist at Unrivaled, where she's averaging 19.7 points and 9.4 rebounds.
Unrivaled's regular season will conclude at the end of this month, with playoffs scheduled for February 28th to March 4th. The semifinal games will take center stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on March 2nd, while the remaining matches will be played in Miami.
So, what do you think? Is Stewart's return to Fenerbahce a strategic move or a step backward in her quest for a more sustainable basketball ecosystem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
