“We are friends, business partners and former teammates… but now we are enemies.”

When Breanna Stewart says that, she’s not only vowing a Finals match, she’s also talking about a matchup against Napheesa Collier, her close friend and former UConn teammate. Together, they won an NCAA championship, shared the court as teammates on the U.S. Women’s National Team and even started business ventures off the field. But now they are on different sides in the most important series of the season.

For Stewart, joining the New York Liberty in 2023 was about more than just a new team – it was about coming home and showing her children what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself. “Being a mother has completely changed my approach on and off the field,” she said, reflecting on how much it would mean for her daughters if she lifted the trophy. And this isn’t just any championship run — it’s for a franchise seeking its first WNBA title in 27 years. New York hasn’t celebrated a professional basketball title in 50 years, and Stewart, a Syracuse native, knows what it would mean to end that drought.

On the other side of the matchup awaits a Minnesota Lynx team with a rich championship history.

The Lynx built their dynasty early in the decade with a core led by Hall of Famers Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus, players who defined excellence and inspired the next generation of stars like Collier – much like Moore former UConn colleague who now carries that quality torch. As Stewart pointed out, there is “a tremendous amount of respect” between them, but when the ball drops, it’s no longer about friendship. It’s about defining who they are in the next chapter of their career.

For Stewart and the Liberty, it’s about proving they’re ready to break through and finally bring New York fans a championship. For Collier and the Lynx, it’s a battle to maintain a standard of excellence established by legends. As Stewart put it, “We’re ready to make history.” Now both teams have a chance to do just that.

Drew Acampora: Stewie, you’re from New York and it’s in your DNA. What does it mean to be on the verge of bringing a championship back to your home state?

Breanna Stewart: It means a lot to be on the verge of bringing a championship back to New York – the first in franchise history. That pressure and knowing that we’re doing it for Brooklyn, for New York and for New York City makes it even more special. Growing up here and being rooted in the city has shaped me. Even though I’m from Syracuse, I’ve always felt connected to this place. Having the chance to do this in front of my friends and family – especially in a historic arena like Barclays – is surreal.

DA: Additionally, New York hasn’t had a men’s or women’s basketball championship in 50 years. What emotions arise when you think about breaking this streak?

BS: It comes with a lot of emotions – heart, desire and determination. There’s something special about going through the struggle and overcoming the challenges that are part of the New York lifestyle. It’s been 50 years since a men’s or women’s team brought a championship here, so ending that drought would mean everything. We are ready to make history.

DA: As a fellow New Yorker, I understand that. I’ll switch gears a little, you’re a mother now – a Great mom. How has motherhood changed your outlook on life, both on and off the pitch?

BS: Being a mother has completely changed my approach both on and off the court. It gave me so much more perspective. My children Ruby and Theo look up to me and I try to be a role model for them every day. I hope they look back at what I do on the court and what I strive for here in New York and be proud of what I do. I want to show them that anything is possible.

DA: In this final you will be competing against a close friend, business partner and former teammate in Napheesa Collier. What’s it like competing against someone you’ve shared so much history with?

BS: We have enormous respect for each other. We’ve done a lot together – both on and off the pitch – but when we compete in the final we put all that aside. We are friends, business partners, former teammates… but now we are enemies. And when the ball tips over, it’s all about winning.

DA: Got it. What would it mean to you personally as a mother to win this championship knowing that Ruby and Theo will be watching?

BS: It would be incredible to win a championship in front of my children because they have never been part of a moment like this before. You’ve never seen me lift a trophy before. I want them to experience it all – the highs, the lows and everything in between. It would be something they would remember forever, something they could look back on and say, “My mother did that.”

DA: Stewie, you were synonymous with winning at UConn and in Seattle when you were early in your career. As a veteran and leader, how do you see your legacy evolving here in New York?

BS: I hope my legacy in New York continues to grow as a winner and a legend. I want to be remembered as someone who gave back to the place, who shaped it, and as a player who came home and did it right. I want to leave an impact here that goes beyond the court.

For Breanna Stewart, these finals are more than just another step in her successful career – they’re about showing her daughters what it means to set a goal and give everything to achieve it. “It would be incredible to win a championship in front of my kids,” she shared, emphasizing how much it means to Ruby and Theo to witness their success firsthand.

“You’ve never seen me lift a trophy before.” Stewart’s desire to inspire her family reflects the emotional demands of this championship series – she’s not just playing for herself, but wants to build a legacy her children can look up to.

However, these finals are about more than just personal milestones; They define what it means to win the New York Way. As Stewart said, “There’s a lot of emotion that comes with that – heart, desire and determination.” That attitude reflects everything she wants to bring to a Liberty team still searching for its first title. If the Liberty can finish what they started, Stewart’s vision of “being remembered as someone who gave back to the place that shaped them” will become a reality – not just for the fans, but for theirs as well Family.

At the same time, under Collier’s leadership, the Lynx are fighting to prove that championship DNA is not fading, but evolving. And the respect that Stewart and Collier have for each other is only matched by their competitive fire. Stewart said: “We’ve done a lot together – both on and off the pitch – but when we compete in the final we put all that aside.”

For Stewart, a championship here would tie together every part of her journey — from Syracuse to Seattle and now to New York — and become the story she will one day share with her daughters. It’s not just about a championship – it’s about creating a legacy they will remember forever.