Free agent forward Breanna Stewart is headed back to the Seattle Storm for a one-year supermax deal, a source told ESPN on Monday, confirming an earlier report.
The WNBA free agency signing window officially begins Tuesday, and the supermax salary for 2022 is $228,094.
Stewart, who was the WNBA regular season MVP in 2018 and the WNBA Finals MVP that year and in 2020, returns to the team that selected her as the first overall draft pick out of UConn in 2016. Stewart, born in Syracuse, New York, he visited the New York Liberty as part of his free agency process, but will play at least one more season with Seattle teammate Sue Bird.
Bird, 41, announced on social media in early January that he would be returning for his 19th career. season in 2022. The duo was a key component of Seattle’s WNBA titles in 2018 and 2020; Bird also helped lead the Storm to the WNBA Championships in 2004 and 2010.
Stewart, who turns 28 in August, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who won four NCAA titles at UConn. She got married during the last WNBA season and, together with her wife, had a baby girl through surrogacy.
But Stewart injured his left foot on Sept. 7 against the Washington Mystics and did not play in Seattle’s final two regular-season games and playoff game. The Storm was eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury, 85-80, in overtime in the second round of the WNBA playoffs.
Stewart had surgery for a minor repair and strengthening of the Achilles tendon in his left leg in October. She missed the 2019 WNBA season as a result of an Achilles tendon injury she sustained while playing overseas.
Stewart has averaged 20.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in his five WNBA seasons.
Stewart’s decision to return to the Storm was first reported on Yahoo! Sports.
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Source: Stewart, Storm agree to 1-year deal