Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier putting business aside in quest for WNBA glory

Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier co-founded the new 3-on-3 women’s league, Unrivaled, which is slated to begin play in January. 

But the former UConn teammates first are facing off in this year’s WNBA Finals. 

Stewart, the 2023 league MVP, is seeking the third championship of her career, but her first in two seasons with the Liberty after losing to the Las Vegas Aces in the title round last year. 

Collier, the runner-up in MVP balloting this year behind Vegas’ A’ja Wilson, was a freshman while Stewart was a senior on the Huskies’ four-peat NCAA championship squad in 2016, the most recent for Geno Auriemma’s storied program. 

“My first impression of Phee was she was this versatile kid coming to UConn in pickup [games], long and lanky and kind of just, like, not sure exactly where we were supposed to be going,” Stewart, a two-time champion with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020, said one day ahead of the series opener Thursday night at Barclays Center. “To see her go from that to where she is now, the growth and the maturity is something that never ceases to amaze me. 

“She was my freshman, so for anybody who understands what I’m saying, you’re so proud of their growth.” 

Collier, the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year after she was selected sixth overall in the draft by the Lynx, has finished in the top five in MVP voting three times in the past five years.

The 6-foot-1 forward also was named the league’s top defensive player this season, and she also was a teammate of Stewart’s and Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s for Team USA’s gold-medal victory this summer at the Paris Olympics. 

“When she was still at school, we probably didn’t talk as much because it’s like a bridge of time,” Stewart said. “As she’s been in the league, her being a mom, and obviously with USA Basketball, being business partners together, we’ve definitely built a bond or kind of rekindled it since college.

“I’m happy to see all the success that she’s had on and off the court and know that it’s gonna be a battle.” 

Unrivaled is scheduled to tip off in January with six teams and 30 players playing in Miami, but Stewart and Collier will put aside their business interests together for the next seven to 10 days, with a potential decisive Game 5 slated for Barclays Center on Oct. 20. 

Both players posted 20.4 points per game to lead their respective teams during the regular season, but Collier has increased her scoring average to a league-best 27.1 points with 9.7 rebounds over seven postseason appearances in the first two rounds against Phoenix and Connecticut. 

“I love Stewie. Honestly, I feel like it was such an honor being able to play with her again in the Olympics,” Collier said before Thursday’s game. “She’s one of the best players in the entire world, so it was so cool. And obviously we’re starting this league together 

“But I think it’s two really great basketball teams going against each other, one and two in the league going against each other, and I do think we are the best teams, so I’m excited to see how it turns out.” 

Collier has averaged nearly twice as many points as the next-highest scorers on the Lynx in the playoffs, guards Courtney Williams (13.7 ppg) and Kayla McBride (13.6). 

The top-seeded Libs lost twice in three games against the Lynx during the regular season and a third time in the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup. 

“They play basketball in the right way,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “Great teamwork, great defense. They make it hard for you. They have great shooting, and they space you out. They’re a good team. 

“Obviously, they’ve beaten us a few times, but I don’t think they’ve seen us at our best. It’s a new season now, and we have to bring our best.”