It’s an important offseason for the Liberty as they head into the 2026 season, but two of their cornerstone players are committed to staying in New York.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have verbally committed to returning to the Liberty for the upcoming season.
Advertisement
Stewart revealed on the Game Recognizes Game podcast, which she co-hosts with Pacers star Myles Turner, that she doesn’t plan to leave the Liberty even though she’s a free agent.
“I will be staying in New York. I’m not planning on taking any free agency meetings. Even though I am an unrestricted free agent,” Stewart said. “My family is set up here, we’re solid here. I’m going to be back in New York and that’s all there is to it. Good luck to everyone else in free agency, but I’m not a part of that.”
After six seasons with the Seattle Storm, where she won an MVP and two championships, she came over to the Liberty and delivered the franchise’s first title in 2024 in her second season with the team — a year after winning her second WNBA MVP.
Stewart and the Liberty couldn’t repeat that success in 2025, as they were eliminated from the playoffs by the Mercury in three games. While dealing with injuries, Stewart was still productive in New York last season. In 31 games, she averaged 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.
For Ionescu, she made her intentions known on Wednesday at USA Basketball training camp.
Advertisement
“Obviously, I’m where I’m supposed to be,” she said. “Never thought anything different. And so, I’m excited to kind of be able to sign and get started. It’s coming up really quickly,” Ionescu told reporters Wednesday in Phoenix. “So, excited to get all this behind us and just be able to start our season and get going in New York.”
The Liberty drafted Ionescu No. 1 overall in 2020 and has become the face of the franchise. She averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds for the Liberty last season while being named to her fourth All-Star Game.
With Stewart and Ionescu committed, the Liberty still have decisions to make on a few free agents. Jonquel Jones, the WNBA Finals MVP for the Liberty, is the biggest free agent from the team’s roster last year. Natasha Cloud, Emma Meessemann and Kennedy Burke are other key free agents.
When Stewart and Ionescu can sign new contracts with the Liberty is still unknown. After the lengthy CBA negotiations came to an end in March, the only date set for this offseason is the expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo on April 19.
