Wonder Woman of the Week: Breanna Stewart

I am currently in between two field studies on women’s sports and a recent speech made by one female athlete rocked my socks off. She’s not just any athlete, as she’s one of the best- if not the best- in her sport today; but she is a champion for the rights of fellow female athletes. This week’s spotlight is a shining example of what it means to be an Olympian on and off the court and is an amazing role model for not only how to present herself as an athlete, but how to present herself as a woman. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Breanna Stewart.

Breanna Stewart was born in Syracuse, NY in 1994. Growing up, Stewart proved she was born to be an athlete. She loved attending Syracuse University games, was a Scholar-Athlete, earned the Cicero North’s Outstanding Character Award, and became an Academic All-American for 2014-15. In college, Stewart won six national athletic awards in her senior year alone. [1]

To elaborate on Breanna Stewart’s senior year at the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!), Stewart played in thirty-seven of the thirty-eight season games and was on the starting line-up for thirty-six of them. She averaged 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. At the NCAA tournament, Breanna upped her game with an average 20.3 points per game. [2]

Straight out of college, Breanna Stewart was the number one draft pick in the WNBA and moved to Seattle, WA to play for the Seattle Storm. Only six games into the season, Stewart continued to dominate on the now professional court. After her first six games, Stewart had an 18.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game averages. [3] Stewart reached a personal best when she made 38 points in an 84-81 win over Atlanta in June of 2016. [4] It was a no brainer then, that the most decorated female athlete in college basketball history was immediately chosen to be part of the 2016 Olympic Team USA to represent her country in the basketball competition, and at only 21 years old. [5]

The balling-est woman in contemporary basketball is not only an Olympian on the court. Breanna Stewart took to the podium at the 2016 ESPY Awards after winning the Best Female Athlete Award and used the platform as a jumping off point to speak about an issue female athletes across all sports understand all too well. Stewart addressed the issues of women athletes not being taken seriously, not being equal to men, and not being given the full credit they deserve. She wasn’t alone either. The entire audience erupted in applause at the powerful woman championing the cause she and her peers have had to deal with for far too long. [6]

Breanna Stewart is a role model in basketball for her career achievements alone. She’s the most decorated female athlete in college basketball history. She was the number one draft pick for the 2016 WNBA season. She was chosen to play for Team USA in the upcoming Olympics in Rio. But beyond all of that, Stewart used her success on the court as a platform from where to speak about issues women in every sport have to deal with. She is not only a champion in her own career, but a champion for women who have far too long been ignored, underappreciated, underpaid, and disrespected. Not bad for a rookie.

“Breanna Stewart.” 2016. WNBA. Accessed 27 July 2016. http://www.wnba.com/player/breanna-stewart/#/bio

“30 – Breanna Stewart.” 2016. UConn Huskies. Accessed 27 July 2016. http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/breanna_stewart_807030.html

Allen, Percy. “No. 1 pick Breanna Stewart living up to the hype for Seattle Storm.” 2 June 2016. The Seattle Times. Accessed 27 July 2016. http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/no-1-pick-breanna-stewart-living-up-to-the-hype-for-seattle-storm/

Evans, Jayda. “Breanna Stewart leads Storm to first back-to-back wins of the season.” 28 June 2016. The Seattle Times. Accessed 27 July 2016. http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/breanna-stewart-leads-storm-to-first-back-to-back-wins-of-season/

Lynch, Andrew. “Why Breanna Stewart is the best basketball player Team USA will have at the Olympics.” 27 July 2016. Fox Sports. Accessed 27 July 2016. http://www.foxsports.com/olympics/story/team-usa-women-s-national-team-breanna-stewart-most-dominant-connecticut-seattle-storm-072716

Mei, Gina. “This WNBA Player Just Demanded Gender Equality in Sports at the ESPYS.” 14 July 2016. Cosmopolitan. Accessed 27 July 2016. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/news/a61333/espys-best-female-athlete-breanna-stewart-gender-equality/