No one waited for the calendar to turn from 2025 to 2026 more than Breanna Stewart. The year 2025 was an uncharacteristically poor year for her, as it was decimated by injuries. The New York Liberty player, having regained her full health, was happy to reveal how she kept going through pain.

Stewart also addressed the physical problems that made it hard for her to be available during the first season of Unrivaled. “Yeah, I think to be playing healthy in the league that I created. I just feel like back to myself, honestly, and that’s the biggest thing. I knew that, you know, no matter what, I got hurt in Game Five of the finals, and I tried to start ramping back up, and it just wasn’t working to prep for Unrivaled.”

She added, “But I didn’t want to sit out. It’s like the inaugural season, like all these things, being a co-founder. I had to be there. I just played through it, and you know, like dealing with an injury and having to play through it is probably the worst thing because that’s all you’re doing. That’s all you’re spending your time on. So, really excited to be healthy this year.”

One look at Breanna Stewart’s 2025 numbers will certainly tell you something was off with her. Her averages of 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in 2025 are a clear downtrend. This was the first season since her rookie year in 2016 that she averaged less than 19 points and dropped below 30% from three-pointers.

While Stewart’s on-court numbers showed a clear dip in 2025, her focus is now split between regaining her form and fighting for the league’s future off the court. The upcoming CBA negotiation deadline is looming large. When asked if a collective bargaining agreement would be possible by the March 10 deadline, she said she was cautiously skeptical. “I don’t know,” Stewart told Fox News Digital after deliberation.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

“I don’t know if a deal gets done by March 10. Part of me wants to say yes, but part of me is like, ‘Negotiations have been really slow going back and forth.’ There needs to be some serious movement within the next week. Literally, I don’t know.”

The players’ union asked for 27.5% of gross revenue, down from their original request of 30%. The league said that these terms would lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

Her leadership role in the CBA talks is no surprise, given how Stewart is actively building a business empire alongside her basketball legacy, demonstrating a keen understanding of player value and long-term financial planning.

Breanna Stewart builds business empire alongside basketball legacy

Breanna Stewart is already making money moves while the WNBA figures out its finances. The Liberty star’s basketball resume alone opens doors: three championships, two Finals MVPs, and two league MVPs. But Stewart isn’t just making money off her time as a player. She’s working on something bigger that will last longer than her career.

She just became the first female athlete ambassador for Throne SPORT COFFEE, working with NFL star Patrick Mahomes. The move makes sense because she is both a top athlete and a mother who faces many demands at all times.

“It just seems really natural and fitting for me,” Stewart explained about the partnership. “I think that being an athlete, being a mom, there’s so many reasons why we constantly need caffeine. But to have it in a healthy way, and also have the protein in it, every time I walk in the gym, I’m having one. I’m letting everyone know that not only am I drinking coffee, but I’m getting so much positive protein benefit as well.”

Stewart signed with New York for $208,400 instead of the $241,984 supermax she earned in 2025. This is because she’s starting her own league with Unrivaled. She’s giving up short-term pay to build long-term equity and multiple streams of income. By prioritizing long-term equity over immediate salary, Stewart is writing a new playbook for athlete empowerment and generational wealth.