Stewart Confirms Plans to Stay with Liberty
Brianna Stewart, a star for the Liberty, has made it clear once again that she has no plans to leave during free agency.
Perhaps this time her words will be taken seriously.
In a recent episode of her podcast, “Stewie and Myles’ Game Recognize Game,” released on Wednesday, Stewart stated confidently that she intends to re-sign with the Liberty as WNBA free agency approaches this month.
“Let me set the record straight here,” she emphasized. “I’m going to stay in New York.”
Stewart, a two-time MVP and three-time WNBA champion, is considered one of the league’s top unrestricted free agents. Notably, she won’t be subject to a core pick, which allows her the freedom to choose her destination.
Nonetheless, she has consistently expressed her commitment to New York since last season. “I’m an unrestricted free agent, but I’m not going to participate in free agency meetings,” she said. “My family is settled here. We’re solid here. … I’m returning to New York, and that’s all that matters. I wish all the other free agents good luck, but I’m not one of them.”
Stewart has spent the last decade establishing herself as a WNBA superstar. Last season, she led the Liberty in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game, alongside impressive stats in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Her on-court presence made a significant difference, contributing to a net rating of 10.4 when she played, the best on the team, while the team’s performance dipped when she was on the bench.
Despite battling a knee injury, Stewart was the standout player for the Liberty, who faced defeat against the Mercury in the first round of the playoffs.
This offseason, she led her team to an unmatched championship, and she is gearing up for another championship appearance with Turkish club Fenerbahce Opet in the EuroLeague this month.
“Honestly, I feel really good,” Stewart shared recently. “Compared to what I was dealing with all season, I’ve been able to be myself on the court. Of course, I have to be smart about my practices and how much I’m doing, but I feel 100 percent better, so I just need to play my game.”
Her firm commitment will ease some concerns for general manager Jonathan Kolb during the offseason. While it seemed unlikely she would leave, it’s reassuring for the team.
The Liberty also plans to re-sign their unrestricted free agents, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones.
The upcoming WNBA Expansion Draft will see the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo make their selections on Friday. While the league hasn’t announced the official start date for free agency, a qualified offer is required before formal negotiations can commence.
Currently, only two players are under contract with the Liberty for 2026: Leoni Fievic and Nyara Sabally. Marin Johannes and Rebecca Gardner are designated as reserved free agents, while the Liberty is expected to keep exclusive negotiating rights with Betoniya Rainey-Hamilton, who had her contract suspended last year as she recovered from knee surgery.
