Breanna Stewart realized early that just being good wouldn't be good enough to become the top-tier basketball player she is today, and ever since, there has been no step back.

On January 28, NBA star Myles Turner and three-time WNBA champion Stewart launched their podcast Game Recognize Game. There, they talked about the X-factor of an athlete’s career and Stewart had some interesting facts to share about her early days.

Turner’s question was, "When was the first time you really felt like you had game?" Stewart recalled the days when she played Varsity basketball. She answered, "So, it’s funny because I think the first time that I really felt like I had game was also in eighth grade. In New York, when you’re in eighth grade, you could play varsity," the star said.

That was when the New York Liberty star played for Cicero-North Syracuse High School. She led the Northstars to two state championships, won several titles, like the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-American honor and more.

But the "huge deal" was something else. The college offer she got from Syracuse was the eye-opener.

"What I remember of ‘oh I got this, I can do this’, was getting my first college offer from Syracuse. Like, that to me was a huge deal," she stated. And after that, "the flood gates opened… All of a sudden, it was like Philly Belles (Philadelphia Belles), the Gauchos, the Exodus. Like they were recruiting me to come play AAU, and it was kind of like what’s happening here."

However, this sudden shift was an unexpected one. Because "My parents were like so not ready. We were all just like, I just want to play varsity with my team and play for my Syracuse Star". However, the world was waiting to see Stewart touch higher ceilings, "they were like no, no, no, no, no. You need to go. You got to level up.”

And level up she did. But being talented does not grant you the easy path. Even for Stewart, some things were "worst."

The Nerve Wrecking Things Even Stewart Faced

From varsity to pro league, the leap was high and full of "fear of the unknown." And Stewart shared some things that were the worst about all these.

"I feel like that’s always the worst. Specially when you are younger. It’s like you have to go to a new team and everyone says you’re good here. But then you go to another team, you have to reprove that. You know, show them who you are. Cause, now you have the numbers and the target on your back every time you step on the court."

The Liberty Forward joined UConn for her college days in 2012. And there she won four consecutive NCAA championships during her tenure of 4 years. But then, W’s Seattle Storm was her next stop, where she played with Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd and won several titles.

But in 2023, Stewart joined the Liberty, where new milestones were waiting for her. And all these changes were nerve-wrecking even for a pro like Stewart.

However, she proved herself to be someone who’d go down in history. From playing varsity in her hometown to becoming a two-time MVP, a six-time WNBA All-Star, and a three-time WNBA champion - she did it all. And with the upcoming season, we might see her making new records, touching new milestones.

What is Breanna Stewart’s biggest achievement, according to you? Let us know in the comments section

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Souvik Roy