One of many best selections Liberty basic supervisor Jonathan Kolb must make this offseason includes Breanna Stewart.
The query shouldn’t be if the Liberty will designate Stewart as a core participant, however when.
Groups can assign core designation to gamers starting Saturday, and Stewart is without doubt one of the most evident free-agent candidates to obtain what’s primarily the WNBA’s equal to the NFL’s franchise tag.
Sure, Stewart has already made her intentions to remain in Brooklyn for another season well-known after serving to the Liberty win the franchise’s first title in 2024.
So why burn a core designation if she plans to return again anyway?
In lots of methods, it’s a win-win for each events concerned.
A participant below the present collective bargaining settlement can have a core designation a most of twice.
Stewart was designated a core participant in 2024 for the primary time in her profession.
Doing it once more this season would make her ineligible of being cored sooner or later, which might give the 30-year-old extra flexibility within the again finish of her profession to play the place she desires.
From a staff standpoint, the Liberty will keep unique negotiating rights with Stewart.
The core designation would mechanically put a supermax supply of a one-year, $249,244 deal on the desk for Stewart — an enormous pay elevate for the two-time league MVP that may put the Liberty in a significant cap crunch whereas nonetheless needing to flesh out their roster.
However ought to historical past repeat itself, then Stewart might take a reduced charge to supply the Liberty extra monetary flexibility to shore up a championship-caliber help solid across the six-time All-Star.
Over the previous two seasons with the Liberty, Stewart has signed under her worth for the betterment of the staff.
In 2023, her first season in Brooklyn after spending her profession with the Seattle Storm, Stewart acquired a base wage of $180,000, in keeping with HerHoopStats.com.
Final season, the Liberty re-signed Stewart on a one-year deal reported to be value $205,000, which was under the participant most wage.
Stewart’s sacrifice paved the way in which for the Liberty to have one of many highest-paid beginning lineups within the league final season in addition to make a couple of further offers in free company so as to add depth.
As of now, the Liberty have six gamers below contract for 2025, together with a lot of the postseason beginning lineup.
Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fibich are among the many lead gamers from final season’s staff anticipated to be again.
Guard Rebekah Gardner, on the mend from an Achilles damage, might additionally make her Liberty debut this season.
Marine Johannes, recovering from an ankle damage suffered this offseason, might be within the combine for 2025, too, after sitting out final season for the Paris Olympics.
Courtney Vandersloot, who began all of the regular-season video games she appeared in however was moved to the bench through the postseason, is one other unrestricted free agent.
However Stewart is the Liberty’s precedence for apparent causes.
Stewart has led the Liberty in scoring in every of her two seasons in Brooklyn.
In 2024, Stewart averaged 20.4 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per recreation.
The Liberty are poised to run it again for 2025 earlier than a league reset occurs subsequent 12 months with a brand new collective bargaining settlement.
