Brianna Stewart returned to the Liberty, and she left money on the table.
Now, as the Liberty prepares to dethrone the two-time defending champion Aces and make another run at winning the first WNBA title in franchise history, the question is: What will the remaining money be used for? I’m saying that.
Will Liberty have another option?
The Liberty re-signed Stewart, the league’s reigning MVP, to a one-year contract on Monday.
“Today is a monumental day for New York as we are thrilled to welcome back MVP Brianna Stewart,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. “Stewie’s return demonstrates our unwavering commitment to excellence and our collective drive to bring championships to New York. Welcome back, Stewie!”
There are reportedly two important caveats to Stewart’s contract terms.
1: Stewart received less than the maximum amount of funds. The Next reported The contract is below the WNBA’s “normal” maximum annual salary of $208,219.
After re-signing fellow free agent and starting center Jonquel Jones earlier this offseason, the Liberty had $513,803 remaining for five roster spots. According to her hoop stats.
They failed to acquire free agent Nneka Ogwumike, who signed with Seattle.
If you write with a pencil New Bench Piece Kennedy Burkethe projected minimum contracts of reserves Leoni Fijevic and Ivana Dojkić, and the first-year salary of the Liberty’s 11th overall pick in April’s WNBA Draft, Stewart will be given $235,521 (more or less). of shekels) remained.
She reportedly signed for much less than that.
The second notable detail is that Stewart’s contract is “non-guaranteed,” keeping him in the last of the Liberty’s six guaranteed salary slots.
That would allow the Liberty to trade against a player with a guaranteed contract (i.e. an established player).
The Athletic, First to report Stewart’s consentsaid the one-year deal gives Stewart and Liberty “great flexibility in future negotiations.”
Earlier this offseason, the Liberty reported that Stewart was a core player as he reached unrestricted free agency to maintain exclusive negotiating rights with the 29-year-old forward, who averaged 23.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in his first season with the team. gave a nomination.
As a centerpiece, Stewart was entitled to a one-year contract with the WNBA’s supermax salary of $241,984.
“This is the first time we’ve been cored. It’s not surprising,” Stewart said a few days after the finals, where Liberty lost four straight to the Aces. “I’m excited about what we’re doing here in New York and on the Liberty. …I’m looking forward to the years to come.”
“It’s a little different because I know my team. I know coming in here. I just want to make sure my teammates feel the same way I do. It’s great to be around them. I love and appreciate sharing the court with them. I felt like we were doing something special and ultimately We didn’t achieve that goal, but we could taste it. We could feel it, and now we’re back to that point and we’re actually making it happen.”
