At this point, every move WNBA players make is easy to connect to the ongoing gridlocked CBA negotiations. Monday was no different, when news broke that Breanna Stewart was heading back to the Euroleague.
That’s right, Breanna Stewart will be returning to Fenerbahce in April for the EuroLeague Final Six, for a possible four games only. These games would be from April 15-19. What WNBA fans quickly realized is that WNBA training camp is *supposed* to start on April 19 as well, meaning that if Stewart’s team makes the Final (and probably even if not), she will be late to camp. And that’s if camps start on time, a big IF given how CBA negotiations are going.
Now, Stewie has played in the EuroLeague a lot in her career, so that’s not the shocking part. This also doesn’t conflict with Unrivaled, which ends on March 4. Stewart is also not on the Team USA World Cup Qualifier team, which also isn’t that much of a surprise, given that A’ja Wilson isn’t on there either. It’s a little shocking, though, that Stewart is going to play overseas so close to the WNBA season, and potentially missing a bit of training camp in the process. She also doesn’t need to go win a EuroLeague championship — she’s won many already. It all begs the question… what’s the point?
She has until May 1 to report to camp without suspension consequences under the current prioritization rules. For those saying new rules are likely to come in the next CBA, much like new scheduling and season-length rules, any new prioritization rules likely wouldn’t be enacted this year. Given Stewart’s precarious health over the past few seasons, her competing in a competition so close to the WNBA is also a little anxiety-inducing for fans.
This reads a lot like a negotiation tactic. One of the WNBA’s best players, a leader on her New York Liberty team, who will be welcoming a new coaching staff in camp — missing the first days of training camp. Essentially, starting to make other plans in case the WNBA season is pushed or doesn’t happen. There is speculation going around that if a new CBA isn’t agreed upon in the next week or two, the currently scheduled WNBA season will start being affected.
Stewart, as one of the members of the WNBPA’s executive committee, essentially just sent a coded message that she doesn’t think a deal is happening in the next few days or weeks. A lot of players will be playing in this Euroleague tournament, but Stewart’s doing so sends a bigger message. She’s one of the most outspoken and influential players in the WNBA. Her actions and words carry a ton of weight.
So, while it’s completely possible that she just wants to go hoop in Turkey and win a tournament, you can’t help but wonder WHY a player who has already won every prize in the basketball world wants to randomly go compete in this. Unless, of course, it’s being used as a message.
What do you think about Breanna Stewart playing in Turkey this spring?
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