Breanna Stewart chooses New York Liberty over Seattle Storm

SEATTLE — Former MVP Breanna Stewart heads to New York.

The Most Desirable Free Agent This Offseason, Winner of the 2018 WNBA MVP Award, announced on social media that she was driving to New York on Wednesday with a photo of her in a Liberty shirt. Stewart had spent her entire career in Seattle since The Storm drafted her No. 1 overall in 2016.

The 28-year-old winger has averaged 20.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in her WNBA career. She missed the 2019 season with an Achilles tendon injury.

Coming to New York brings Stewart closer to home. She grew up in Syracuse, an hour’s flight from New York. It’s also an easier flight to Spain to see her wife Marta’s family.

Representatives from New York, including coach Sandy Brondello and owner Clare Wu Tsai, met with Stewart in Turkey last week. Stewart narrowed her choices to Seattle and New York before settling on the Liberty.

The move makes the Liberty an instant championship contender. New York is one of the original WNBA franchises but has never won a championship. The Liberty previously added MVP Jonquel Jones and Kayla Thornton in a three-way deal in 2021 to complement Sabrina Ionescu, No. 1 draft pick of 2020.