Breanna Stewart WNBA CBA frustration surfaced prominently as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, set to expire after the 2025 season, faces stalled negotiations between the WNBA and the players‘ association. On Thursday, Stewart criticized the league‘s unwillingness to engage in meaningful discussions, signaling growing tensions ahead of a critical meeting in Indianapolis.
The back-and-forth discussions have yet to yield progress, with players feeling that their concerns are being dismissed. This follows Mercury forward Satou Sabally’s description of the league’s initial offer as a “slap in the face.” Stewart emphasized the league’s disregard for players’ demands, highlighting a lack of genuine dialogue.
“Absolutely frustrated,” she said. “Anytime you go back-and-forth, you’re not expecting to hear that ‘yes’ on the first [proposal], but you’re expecting to have a conversation. They kind of just ignored everything we said.”
—Breanna Stewart, WNBA Players’ Association Member
“There’ll be a pretty big meeting in Indy between both sides, and hopefully we’ll be able to talk through it a little bit more rather than just email and messaging back-and-forth,” Stewart continued.
—Breanna Stewart, WNBA Players’ Association Member
The possibility of a lockout looms if an agreement is not reached, potentially undermining the league’s recent momentum. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has also come under intense scrutiny amidst these challenges. Over the past few years, the league has expanded its reach, securing new national television rights starting in 2024 and unveiling plans to add three expansion teams by 2030.
Breanna Stewart on New York Liberty’s Challenging Road Trip and Recent Victory
During late June, the New York Liberty faced a difficult stretch playing four consecutive away games, managing to win only once while suffering losses that allowed the Minnesota Lynx to pull ahead in standings. Following a Thursday home victory against the LA Sparks, Stewart reflected candidly on the impact of the road trip on the team’s focus.
“To know that we’re back home, know we have our fans behind us. The road trip was tough, rough, there was a lot of things that you could look at and be like, ‘Wow, we sucked it a lot.’ We had a kind of reality check, lock back in and really focus on ourselves.”
—Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty Forward
The Liberty’s 89-79 win over the Sparks marked their first victory after two losses. They are scheduled to face the Seattle Storm at home next, aiming to achieve back-to-back wins for the first time in eight games.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Are Breanna Stewart’s kids biological?
A. Their daughter, Ruby Mae Stewart Xargay, arrived in August 2021. Their son, Theo Josep Stewart Xargay, was born in October 2023. Both children were born through surrogacy. The couple is happy about expanding their family and finds parenthood rewarding and life-changing.
Q. Is Breanna Stewart a millionaire?
A. By 2025, Breanna Stewart is expected to have a net worth of $5 million, placing her among the wealthiest WNBA athletes. She began with a typical four-year rookie contract with the Seattle Storm. Later on, she signed deals for two years and one year, earning $375,500 and $228,094, respectively.