WNBA title adds to Breanna Stewart's case as women's basketball's most decorated athlete

By Lindsay Kramer | lkramer@syracuse.com | Posted September 13, 2018 at 08:11 AM

Carolyn Kaster | Associated Press

 Basketball seasons almost always end in a celebration for Breanna Stewart.

In her last nine years of competition in North America, Stewart has won eight significant team titles. 

That includes two state championships with Cicero-North Syracuse, four NCAA crowns at UConn and, in her third WNBA season, the title she helped the Seattle Storm win on Wednesday night (Stewart scored 30 points in the clincher and was named MVP of the finals).

Oh yeah. She also found time to power the United States to a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics. At just 24, Stewart is on her way to building a case as the most accomplished women's basketball player in history.

Here's a quick flip through the scrapbook of those seasons and accomplishments: 

Stephen D. Cannerelli

In high school, Stewart carried the Northstars to state titles in her junior and senior years.

Stephen D. Cannerelli

As a senior, Stewart won Gatorade's national girls player of the year award. Former University of Tennessee standout and WNBA star Tamika Catchings was visited CN-S to make the surprise announcement. 

Bill Haber | Associated Press

As a freshman at UConn, she averaged 13.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in the regular season and then scored 105 points in the Huskies' final five NCAA Tournament game to her first Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. She was the first freshman to win that honor since 1987. 

John Bazemore | Associated Press

Stewart and the Huskies went back-to-back when she was a sophomore. She produced 19.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game during the regular season and won another Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four award. She also became just the third sophomore to be named AP player of the year.

Jessica Hill | Associated Press

Stewart and the Huskies brought home more national title and MOP hardware after her junior year. During the regular season, she averaged 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Michael Conroy | Associated Press

Stewart capped her college career with regular season numbers of 19.4 points and 8.7 points per contest and her fourth straight national title and MOP award. She was the first-ever unanimous pick for AP player of the year and the first player to win that award three straight times.

Carlos Osorio | Associated Press

Stewart was as good as gold in the 2016 Olympics, dropping in 13.7 points per game for the champion United States.

Elaine Thompson | Associated Press

Stewart was taken by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. She won the league's rookie of the year award after averaging 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds a game.

Elaine Thompson | Associated Press

Stewart earned all-WNBA honors in 2017, her second season in the league, after producing 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. 

Elaine Thompson | Associated Press

Stewart added more hardware to her collection this season by grabbing WNBA regular season MVP honors after putting up 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.