Brianna Stewart has won at every level around the world.
During his time in college, he won four national championships and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player all four times.
On the world stage, she won her third gold medal at this summer's Paris Olympics and has won three FIBA World Cups with Team USA.
In overseas professional competitions, her team won the prestigious Euroleague Championship twice.
And in the world's best league, the WNBA, where she is now a three-time champion after leading her home state's dominant original franchise, the Liberty, to its first title, she is an iconic figure that surpasses all other leagues. It's a great victory.
“I've been expressing this moment for a while, but it doesn't feel like it at all,” Stewart said in the aftermath of an exhilarating Game 5 win over the Minnesota Lynx in Brooklyn.
That's the feeling the North Syracuse native was chasing when she left the Seattle Storm after seven years and two rings and accepted the challenge of bringing glory to New York.
“The win in Seattle was great and there's nothing to take away from that. But we were able to bring an all-time first [championship] freedom and first place [in New York City] 51 years later…” Stewart said.
“The first WNBA game I went to was at MSG, at Liberty. It was great to be able to come full circle.”
Still only 30 years old, Stewart has a solid track record as women's basketball's all-time winningest player.
“Sometimes I think about my resume and think, 'Oh, that's pretty good.' I've done a lot, but I still want to do more,” Stewart told the Post last year. “When you think about legacy, I want to be seen as a winner, but also a good person.”
Stewart polished off his resume by winning the MVP award in 2023 (his second), but his regular season numbers dipped slightly in 2024 (20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, All-Defensive First Team, (3rd place in MVP voting), but that was due to her strength. High standards.
And in the finals, a missed free throw sealed Liberty's fate in a Game 1 collapse. In the come-from-behind game 3, he scored an impressive 30 points and 11 rebounds. At that time, she shouted from the audience, “I haven't lost this game,'' but before she lost, she had only one word to say. And, oh, in that Game 5, she shot poorly, but she put her season on the line and made two foul shots and dragged her team to the goal line.
WNBA Finals Game 5 victory. Michelle Falci/New York Post
“Everyone was texting me all day today saying, 'How are you doing? Are you ready?'” Stewart said after Game 5. “And I was calm and ready. We knew the city would protect us no matter what. And they showed up and were there for us when we needed them. And I'm very proud of this team, but I'm very happy to bring our first championship here because this city deserves it.”
She arrived at Barclays Center in the winter of 2023 wearing a Yankees-themed overcoat.
She happily made her way through the building on Sunday night wearing champagne goggles emblazoned with the logo of Puma, the maker of her signature sneakers.
“In the end, I decided on New York, obviously. [it’s] Close to home. The roots were here. But I want to be surrounded by greatness,'' Stewart said at his inaugural press conference on that day last year. “When I look at the people here, [on the podium]and many people who are part of the Liberty organization, everyone wants to be better. Everyone wants to continue to raise the bar and make big changes. ”
Mission accomplished.
“We talked about it two years ago during free agency,” Stewart said Sunday over a glass of Moet. “We wanted to be together, and you turn around and say, I'm J.J. [Jonquel Jones],slot [Courtney Vandersloot]we all came here to win a championship, but last year we lost in the finals.
“But look, we're here and we can't wait to celebrate. See you at the parade.”
